However, we will share with you as much information as possibly can about this subject so that you no longer have any questions left un-answered by the end of this article.
What Is Niacin?
Niacin is one of the eight B vitamins, and it’s also called vitamin B3 The key role of niacin in your body is to synthesize the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), which are involved in over 400 biochemical reactions in your body — mainly related to obtaining energy from the food you eat This also means that your body can excrete excess amounts of the vitamin through urine if they are not needed Your body gets niacin through food, but it also makes small amounts from the amino acid tryptophan, which can be found in protein sources like turkey and other animal foods
Why Do People Take Niacin?
As a cholesterol treatment, there are good studies showing that niacin can boost levels of good HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides. Niacin also modestly lowers bad LDL cholesterol.
So don’t treat yourself with over-the-counter niacin supplements. In addition, niacin is an FDA-approved treatment for pellagra, a rare condition that develops from niacin deficienc.
Deficiency Symptoms
The condition can be fatal.
Factors that can lead to low levels of B-3 include: having a diet low in tryptophans or a condition that reduces the body’s ability to convert tryptophan to niacin, such as Hartnup disease or carcinoid syndrome
undernutrition, for example, due to alcohol use disorder, anorexia, and inflammatory bowel disease
a low intake of vitamin B-2, B-6, or iron, as this can reduce the amount of tryptophan that converts to niacin Click here to find out more about vitamin B-3 deficiency.
Uses In Medicine
In the past, some people have combined vitamin B-3 with statin use as a treatment to control cholesterol. For this reason, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association do not recommend using this treatment.
However, taking high doses of vitamin B-3 as a supplement can result in adverse effects. Vitamin B supplements are available to purchase online, but people should check first with a doctor to make sure they are safe to take. The body needs tryptophan to make protein, but if there is extra, it can convert it to niacin.