A severe niacin deficiency leads to pellagra, a condition that causes a dark, sometimes scaly rash to develop on skin areas exposed to sunlight; bright redness of the tongue; and constipation/diarrhea. Other signs of severe niacin deficiency include: Depression.
Overview. Niacin is a B vitamin that's made and used by your body to turn food into energy. It helps keep your nervous system, digestive system and skin healthy. Niacin (vitamin B-3) is often part of a daily multivitamin, but most people get enough niacin from the food they eat.
Niacin deficiency is more likely to be caused by problems that affect absorption of niacin or tryptophan. The most common cause is alcoholism. Other possible causes include disorders of the digestive system and prolonged treatment with the tuberculosis drug isoniazid (Laniazid, Nydrazid).
Abstract. Pellagra defines systemic disease as resulting from a marked cellular deficiency of niacin. It is characterized by 4 "D's": diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, and death.
A severe niacin deficiency leads to pellagra, a condition that causes a dark, sometimes scaly rash to develop on skin areas exposed to sunlight; bright redness of the tongue; and constipation/diarrhea. Other signs of severe niacin deficiency include: Depression. Headache.
Specific measures. The WHO recommends at least 300 mg nicotinamide in an oral divided daily dose for 3–4 weeks to treat pellagra. Nicotinamide is recommended due to niacin-induced flushing. Additional dietary supplements may be required for general malnutrition and cachexia.
After about six months, the body can make some niacin from an amino acid called tryptophan.
The most prominent sources of vitamin B3 are: Vegetarian sources include avocado, mushrooms, green peas, beans, lentils, ginger, sweet pepper, and potatoes. Nuts and seeds include peanuts, soy nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, squash seeds, whole grains, soy milk, etc.
They include skin rashes, gastrointestinal problems, complications with the management of pre-existing diabetes and increased risk of developing diabetes. “We have known for a long time that niacin increases the risk of diabetes — it doesn't cause diabetes, it just brings it forward,” Dr. Cho says.
The B Vitamins
B3 (Niacin) can decrease REM (Rapid Eye Movement) whilst you are sleeping and can prevent how often you wake up during the night, and in some cases even help with depression. Many of the B vitamins help regulate the use of trytophan, which helps the body produce the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin.
Vitamin B3 plays a crucial role in the synthesis of serotonin and has been shown to help with anxiety at a dosage of 1,000-3,000mg per day. Vitamin B5 supports the adrenal glands, which reduces stress and anxiety levels.
Some doctors recommend inositol hexaniacinate (a special for of vitamin B3) as an alternative to niacin. A typical amount recommended is 500 mg three times per day. This form of vitamin B3 does not typically cause a skin flush and is said to be safer for the liver than niacin.
Niaspan® should be taken at bedtime after a low-fat snack. To decrease flushing or redness of your face, take aspirin or ibuprofen (eg, Advil®, Motrin®) 30 minutes before taking Niaspan®. Avoid drinking alcohol or hot drinks or eating spicy foods around the time you take Niaspan®.
A Niacin blood test is typically ordered when a person has symptoms of Niacin deficiency or is taking Niacin supplements to help monitor their levels. The typical turnaround time for this test is 4-10 business days.
Taking niacin with food may also increase niacin's bioavailability,124 whereas taking it at bedtime allows many patients to sleep through any flushing and may blunt nocturnal release of free fatty acids.
A. Eggs contain a negligible amount of niacin. 100 grams of eggs contain only 0.075 mg of niacin.
Vitamin B3 is found naturally in a wide variety of both animal and plant-based foods, including beef, liver, poultry, eggs, dairy products, fish, nuts, seeds, legumes, avocados, and whole grains. It is also found in fortified cereals and bread.
Eat at least 1 to 2 cups daily. Blueberries contain: Salicylic acid, carotenoids, fiber, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, manganese, magnesium, iron, riboflavin, niacin, phytoestrogens, low calories.