Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B3
For the health condition: Alcoholism

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, has a historical association with the treatment of alcoholism, largely stemming from the work of Dr. Abram Hoffer and other proponents of orthomolecular medicine in the mid-20th century. They suggested that high doses of niacin could reduce cravings for alcohol and support recovery, citing anecdotal reports and a few small, uncontrolled studies. The rationale was partly based on the observation that chronic alcoholism is often associated with deficiencies in B vitamins, including niacin, due to poor nutrition and impaired absorption. Severe niacin deficiency leads to pellagra, which can cause neuropsychiatric symptoms that may overlap with symptoms seen in alcoholism.

However, scientific validation for using niacin specifically to treat alcoholism is limited. Modern, well-controlled clinical trials do not support a direct therapeutic effect of vitamin B3 supplementation on alcohol dependence, withdrawal, or relapse prevention in the absence of a documented deficiency. Current medical guidelines recommend B vitamin supplementation, especially thiamine (vitamin B1), in patients with alcoholism to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, but niacin is not singled out for specific anti-alcohol or anti-craving effects. Thus, while Vitamin B3 has a traditional role based on historical practice and case reports, robust scientific evidence for its efficacy in treating alcoholism is lacking.

More about Vitamin B3
More about Alcoholism

Products containing Vitamin B3

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.