What is Niacin? Benefits, Harm, Deficiency and Excess

Niacin Vitamin B3and is an important nutrient for the body. It is necessary for every part of the body to function properly.

This vitamin; It lowers cholesterol, relieves arthritis and increases brain function. However, if you take it in high doses, it can cause serious side effects.

In this text "What is niacin, what does it do", "niacin deficiency" comic niacin vitamin You will be told what you need to know about.

What is niacin?

It is one of the eight B vitamins and Vitamin B3 It is also called. It has two main chemical forms and each exerts different effects on the body. Both forms are found in foods and supplements.

Nicotinic acid

Used to treat high cholesterol and heart disease niacin form.

Niacinamide or nicotinamide

Nicotinic acidUnlike skin, it does not lower cholesterol. However, it helps treat type 1 diabetes, some skin conditions and schizophrenia.

Since this vitamin is water soluble, it is not stored in the body. This means that the body will expel the unnecessary excess. We get this vitamin from food and also tryptophan an amino acid called niacin It makes.

What does niacin do?

As with other B vitamins, it converts food into energy by helping enzymes do their job.

NAD and NADP, which are important components, are two coenzymes involved in cellular metabolism. These coenzymes are antioxidants that play a role in DNA repair as well as sending signals to cells.

Niacin deficiency

Deficiency symptoms are as follows:

Memory loss and mental confusion

- Tiredness

- Depression

- Headache

- Diarrhea

Skin problems

Deficiency is generally a rare occurrence in developed countries. It is seen in countries with severe nutritional shortages. Serious deficiency pellegra It can cause a potentially fatal disease.

What is the amount to be taken daily?

A person's need for a certain vitamin; It varies depending on its diet, age and gender. Recommended daily doses for this vitamin are as follows:

In infants

0-6 months: 2 mg per day

7-12 months: 4 mg per day

In children

1-3 years old: 6 mg per day

4-8 years old: 8 mg per day

9-13 years old: 12 mg per day

In adolescents and adults

In men over the age of 14: 16 mg per day

Girls and women over the age of 14: 14 mg per day

Pregnant women: 18 mg per day

Breastfeeding women: 17 mg per day

What Are the Benefits of Niacin?

Lowers LDL cholesterol

This vitamin has been used to treat high cholesterol since the 1950s. It can lower the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol by 5-20%.

However, due to its possible side effects, it is not the primary treatment for cholesterol. Rather, it is primarily used as a cholesterol-lowering treatment for people who cannot tolerate statins.

Raises HDL cholesterol

In addition to lowering LDL cholesterol, it also raises HDL cholesterol. It helps break down apolipoprotein A1, a protein that helps make HDL. Studies show that it can raise HDL cholesterol levels by 15-35%.

Lowers triglycerides

Another benefit of this vitamin for blood fat is that it reduces triglycerides by 20-50%. It does this by stopping the action of the enzyme involved in triglyceride synthesis.

As a result this; It decreases the production of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). Therapeutic doses are needed to achieve these effects on cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Helps prevent heart disease

The effect of this vitamin on cholesterol also helps prevent heart disease indirectly. A recent study, niacin treatmentThey concluded that in people with heart disease or at an increased risk of heart disease, the risk of death from a heart attack or heart disease such as stroke is significantly reduced.

Helps treat type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks and destroys insulin-forming cells in the pancreas.

NiacinThere's research showing that can help protect these cells and reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes in potentially at-risk children.

However, the situation is a little more complicated for people with type 2 diabetes. NiacinIt has the potential to increase blood sugar levels, while helping to lower the high cholesterol levels commonly seen in type 2 diabetics.

So to treat high cholesterol levels niacin pill Diabetic patients who take it should carefully monitor their blood glucose levels.

Improves brain function

As part of the NAD and NADP cosmesis of the brain to provide energy and function niacinneeds. Brain blur and psychiatric symptoms, niacin deficiency It is associated with.

Some types of schizophrenia can also be treated with this vitamin because it helps restore damage to brain cells that result from failure.

Preliminary research also shows that it can help keep the brain healthy in Alzheimer's disease.

Improves skin functions

This vitamin helps protect skin cells from sun damage when taken orally or applied to the skin through lotions. Recent research shows that it may help prevent some types of skin cancer.

One study found that taking 500 mg of nicotinamide twice daily reduced non-melanoma skin cancer rates among people at high risk of skin cancer.

Reduces arthritis symptoms

A preliminary study found that this vitamin eases osteoarthritis symptoms by increasing joint mobility. Another study with rats in a laboratory setting, niacin vitamin found that an injection containing arthritis reduced inflammation due to arthritis.

Cures pellagra

pellagra, diseases seen in niacin deficiencyis one of. Niacin supplement taking is the main treatment for this disease. Niacin deficiency is rare in the so-called industrialized countries. It can sometimes be accompanied by alcoholism, anorexia, or Hartnup disease.

What Is Niacin?

This vitamin is found in a variety of foods, including meat, poultry, fish, bread, and cereals. Some energy drinks can also contain very high doses of B vitamins. Below,  foods containing niacin ve The quantities are stated:

Chicken breast: 59% of the daily intake

Canned tuna (in light oil): 53% of the RDI

Beef: 33% of the RDI

Smoked salmon: 32% of the RDI

Whole grains: 25% of the RDI

Peanuts: 19% of the RDI

Lentils: 10% of the RDI

1 slice of whole wheat bread: 9% of the RDI

Do you need supplements?

Everybody's niacin vitaminIt needs cows, but most people get it from their diet. If you still have a deficiency and need to take higher doses, your doctor Vitamin B3 pill Can recommend. It is best to ask a doctor before using any supplements as large amounts can have side effects.

Niacin Harm and Side Effects

There is no harm in taking vitamins from food. However, supplements can cause various side effects such as nausea, vomiting, liver toxicity. The most common side effects of supplements are;

Niacin flush

Nicotinic acid supplements may cause flushing of the face, chest, or neck that occurs as a result of blood vessel dilatation. In addition, tingling, burning sensation or pain may be experienced.

Stomach irritation and nausea

Nausea, vomiting, and stomach irritation may occur, especially when slow-release nicotinic acid is used. This results in elevated liver enzymes.

Liver damage

This results in high doses of cholesterol treatment over time. niacin It is one of the dangers of taking. Slow release nicotinic acidIt is more common.

Blood sugar control

Large doses of this vitamin (3-9 grams per day) lead to impaired blood sugar control in both short and long-term use.

Eye health

A rare side effect that causes visual impairment is seen in addition to other negative effects on eye health.

good

This vitamin can increase uric acid levels in the body and can lead to gout.

As a result;

Niacinis one of the eight B vitamins important to every part of your body. You can get the amount you need through food. However, supplemental forms are sometimes recommended for the treatment of certain medical conditions, including high cholesterol.