Niacin (vitamin B3) (Nicotinic Acid / Niacinamide)

Other names
Synopsis
Uses: Health Conditions
Uses: Body Systems
Products

Other names

Niacin
Vitamin B3
Nicotinamide
Inositol Hexanicotinate

Synopsis

Niacin, or vitamin B3, is an essential water-soluble vitamin involved in numerous metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, and cellular repair functions. It exists in two primary forms: nicotinic acid, which has lipid-lowering properties, and niacinamide (nicotinamide), which does not affect lipids but is essential for cellular energy production, DNA repair, and inflammatory regulation.

Niacin serves as a precursor to two critical coenzymes—NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NADP (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate)—which are central to oxidative metabolism, ATP production, detoxification, and redox balance in all cells. These coenzymes are required in over 400 enzymatic reactions, particularly those that help convert carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into usable energy.

Therapeutically, nicotinic acid is used at high doses to treat hyperlipidemia, effectively lowering LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein(a), while raising HDL cholesterol. However, its use is sometimes limited due to a common side effect known as the “niacin flush”—a harmless but uncomfortable tingling, burning, or reddening of the skin caused by vasodilation.

Niacinamide, on the other hand, is often used for skin health, arthritis, and neurological conditions. It has been studied in the treatment of osteoarthritis, diabetes-related inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, where NAD depletion is implicated in disease progression. Topically, niacinamide is widely used in dermatology for acne, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, and barrier repair.

Niacin is also critical in preventing pellagra, a condition caused by niacin deficiency characterized by the “three Ds”: dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia. Though rare today in developed countries, pellagra was once widespread in areas where corn-based diets were not nixtamalized to make niacin bioavailable.

Historical Use
Niacin was first identified in the early 20th century, but the disease it prevents—pellagra—had been described for centuries, particularly in Europe and the southern United States. Pellagra was once a major public health issue in communities that relied heavily on corn or maize as a staple food, without the traditional alkali processing used in Mesoamerican cultures to liberate niacin.

The connection between diet and pellagra was formally established in the 1910s and 1920s, and by 1937, niacin was synthesized and classified as vitamin B3. The term “PP factor” (pellagra-preventive) was briefly used before being replaced by the modern nomenclature.

While niacin itself does not have a history in traditional herbal medicine, many food sources high in niacin—such as liver, fish, legumes, mushrooms, and whole grains—were traditionally recommended for vitality, mental health, and strength. Some of these effects may have been due, in part, to their niacin content.

In modern integrative medicine, niacin and its derivatives are used not only for cardiovascular health and nutrient replenishment, but also to support detoxification, mitochondrial health, and healthy aging. NAD+ precursors, such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), have emerged as extensions of niacin’s therapeutic legacy, offering new approaches to cellular rejuvenation and longevity.

Uses: Health Conditions

None

Body Systems

Arteries (Traditional)
Brain (Traditional)
Circulatory System (Traditional)
Liver (Traditional)
Mucus Membranes (Traditional)
Nerves (Traditional)
Skin (Traditional)

Products containing this ingredient

Health Concerns

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