Niacin is also called vitamin B3 or niacinamide. It is a vital water-soluble vitamin that is present in many common foods. These include some kinds of meat and organ meat, tuna, seeds, mushrooms, and others.
Niacin is a member of the vitamin B group. Other vitamins that have this status are thiamine, riboflavin, and others.
Niacin appears in three different forms: nicotinic acid, niacinamide, and inositol hexaniacinate. Niacin has been the subject of much research and is useful for treating many typical health issues.
Niacin is a crucial vitamin for promoting a good cardiovascular and metabolic system. It is particularly important for maintaining proper cholesterol levels. Also, it aids in maintaining proper brain function, healthy skin, and staving off diabetes.
According to recent research, there are possible side effects that can happen when ingesting supplements in larger doses. These side effects include headaches, dizziness, low blood pressure, and others.
It is unlikely that you will experience side effects from eating foods that are rich in niacin. However, you might experience them if you take supplements. Also, medications that contain niacin in large quantities may cause some issues. These include muscle pain, digestive distress, and skin inflammation. Despite the possibility of side effects, niacin has several important uses and is commonly prescribed.
1. Cholesterol
Niacin is used by doctors to aid in reducing dangerously high cholesterol levels. It has been shown to inhibit the possibility of cardiovascular disease in people with mixed dyslipidemia. This is a heightening of plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, or both.
Research has indicated that niacin has been demonstrated to be useful for people who are at an elevated risk for heart problems because of high LDL, low HDL, and elevated triglycerides.
Many studies have indicated that niacin can heighten levels of HDL and lower triglycerides in the same way that prescription drugs can.
Niacin also aids in lowering LDL. It is many times prescribed together with statin drugs to control cholesterol. These drugs include Crestor, Lescol, and Lipitor.
Niacin side effects that may affect heart health are currently being researched. However, it is currently thought that the positive effects of the substance outweigh the possible risks for negative side effects.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]2. Lowers Cardio Vascular Disease Risk
Besides aiding in balancing cholesterol and triglyceride levels, the substance has other positive aspects for heart health. Such benefits include the ability to lessen atherosclerosis. This condition is the harmful hardening of the arteries that may cause heart disease.
Niacin also has a role in the lessening of inflammation and creation of histamine. This is a chemical substance that is helpful in dilating blood vessels and promoting circulation.
For patients who have previously had heart issues, vitamin B3 can reduce the chance of a reoccurrence. Also, it is a remedy for pellagra. This is a rare condition that comes about from a lack of niacin.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]3. Can Help Treat Diabetes
Vitamin B3 may be useful for treating diabetes. This is because it has the effect of controlling blood sugar levels. It is thought that vitamin B3 can aid in improving the efficiency of some oral drugs that are prescribed to control diabetes.
Most people with diabetes can balance blood glucose levels better with the aid of niacin. Also, they may reduce the risk of elevated blood cholesterol and heart disease. These are common conditions in people who have diabetes.
Reducing LDL levels is a high priority in treating people with diabetes. Administering B3 is a good method for achieving this.
It is important to recognize that B3 is possibly related to complications with elevated blood sugar levels. So, you will need to speak to your doctor before using any B3 supplements.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]4. Maintains Skin Health
Certain people find it useful to use niacin for treating acne. This is particularly the case for inflamed and painful acne.
Vitamin B3 is prescribed as a remedy for healthy skin and getting rid of acne. It is used topically for this purpose. Some people take it internally to help their issues.
Since the substance aids in reducing skin inflammation and other similar issues, it is also used for healing skin issues called bullous pemphigoid and granuloma annulare. These are two skin diseases that include the blistering of the skin. This can be painful and result in infection.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]5. Aids in Proper Brain Function
Research has indicated that vitamin B3 can help stave off Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders that lead to cognitive impairment.
Also, vitamin B3 has been associated with a lowered risk for many problems related to problem brain function or depletion of age-caused thinking skills. These include memory loss, migraine headaches, chronic brain syndrome, depression, and insomnia.
Niacin is also prescribed for remedying and inhibiting schizophrenia and hallucinations. Research shows that there is also a connection between increased B3 ingestion and lower possibility for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]6. Promotes Joint Mobility
There is research that shows that vitamin B3 can be useful in promoting joint mobility. Studies associate intake with reduced amounts of joint pain, improved muscle strength, and a lessening of symptoms related to muscle or joint fatigue.
Great doses of niacinamide have been shown to promote flexibility and lessen swelling. This allows some people to lower the amount of painkiller for arthritis that they need to take.
As a remedy for osteoarthritis or bone and joint problems, it is given in high doses for anti-inflammatory benefits. Reducing inflammation aids in reducing the presence of symptoms of arthritis. It also helps to rebuild the cartilage that is necessary for mobility and strength.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]7. Treats Pellagra
When you get a deficiency of vitamin B3, it can lead to an illness called pellagra. This is usually only witnessed in poverty-stricken locations or in those who have alcoholism. Its symptoms include weak muscles, digestive problems, and skin inflammation and irritation.
People with pellagra usually have low levels of vitamin B3 and other B vitamins. Other causes include protein metabolism problems. If B3 levels are not returned, then the patient can actually die.
Nicotinic acid deficiency comes about from malnutrition and alcoholism. B3 is administered to people in areas where they suffer from poverty and malnutrition.
The typical treatment for pellagra is a prescription of nicotinamide, a type of vitamin B3.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]8. Can Help with Impotence
Impotence is also known as erectile dysfunction. It is when a man has a problem sustaining an erection. This can cause issues with normal sexual activity and may be partly attributed to issues with reduced blood flow and problem circulation. It also can result from other factors like stress, fatigue, and illness.
Taking vitamin B3 supplements can help inhibit impotence. This is because vitamin B3 functions as a vasodilator that aids with blood supply to the genital area. To supplement with vitamin B3 as a natural remedy, you can take 250 mg of vitamin B3 three times per day.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]9. Can Help Prevent Defects
Vitamin B3 has been shown to help with preventing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide effects. NAD molecules are vital for energy storage and DNA synthesis in cells. Therefore, increasing B3 levels in pregnant women can lower birth defect rates.
A 2017 article noted that the disruption of NAD molecule creation resulted in malformations in humans and mice. Also, vitamin B3 supplementation in pregnancy staved off malformations in mice.
Despite the positive findings in the research, more human studies are necessary before doctors will prescribe vitamin B3.
It has been seen that niacin is a crucial vitamin in the regulation of many processes in the body. While it may be useful to take it as a supplement for various conditions, you should always consult your doctor before taking any supplement. This is especially the case because of the potential side effects associated with this vitamin.
