Advantages and Disadvantages of Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)

Vitamins are essential nutrients needed by the body for it to function well. They are organic chemicals that are needed to maintain an excellent body condition. However, in unnecessary and uncontrollable amounts, they may bring unwanted outcomes. Such is true with a common vitamin compound called Niacinamide.

Niacinamide or Vitamin B3 is a water-soluble vitamin that can be found in green vegetables, meat, milk, eggs, beans, yeast, and cereal grains. Because it is a derivative of Vitamin B, Niacinamide can also be found in many Vitamin B supplements. It is known to be a cholesterol lowering agent that targets the bad and harmful LDL cholesterol while maintaining a high good cholesterol levels.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance of Niacinamide for adults is 16 – 18 mg and up to a maximum of 35 mg daily. This can be gained either from food sources or from Vitamin B complex supplements. In this controlled amount of Niacinamide intake, optimum advantage can be achieved. The proven benefits include normal function of the digestive system, treatment of pellagra, cell respiration, carbohydrate metabolism, improving blood circulation, cholesterol level reduction and memory enhancement. It also helps patients with inflammatory skin disorders specifically acne vulgaris because the anti-inflammatory properties of Niacinamide blocks the actions of iodides that can aggravate inflammatory acne conditions. As an antioxidant, Niacinamide protects the body against pollutants and toxins that one may encounter daily. Breakthroughs in recent studies had identified a role of Niacinamide as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of cancer wherein Niacinamide acts as a chemo and radio sensitizing agent reducing tumor hypoxia during the course of chemotherapy.

Niacinamide deficiency or inadequate dietary consumption of Niacinamide can lead to poor mental concentration, irritability, and in severe cases, delirium, diarrhea, apathy, and clinical depression. Skin eruptions, sores, halitosis, and insomnia are also reported symptoms of insufficient Niacimide in the body.

Too much of something is definitely not good no matter how many benefits you can attribute upon it. In excessive doses niacin can cause dry skin, various digestive maladies, elevated blood sugar levels, and severe liver damage.

What is important to note is that Niacinamide can be taken together with group B vitamins to optimize its effects and may be much potent if paired with vitamin C.

All in all, there are really no safety concerns regarding the intake of Niacinamide as long as you know the effects, and how much of it you can tolerate to have in a day is taken into proper consideration