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| Vitamin Niacinamide |
Last updated: Jan 04, 2009 |
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Niacinamide is the amide (more water-soluble) form of niacin (vitamin B3). It is also called nicotinamide and nicotinic acid amide, and does not cause the flushing that niacin does. Caution must be exercised with niacin, niacinamide and sustained release niacin because larger doses may cause liver damage. The first indications of over-use are usually nausea and elevations of liver enzymes.
Niacinamide may cause flushing and a feeling of warmth about the face and neck within the first two hours of taking a dose. Itching, tingling, or headache may occur as well. These effects should subside as your body adjusts to the medication. Stomach upset, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Less likely symptoms include vision problems, dark urine, stomach (abdominal) pain, rash, swelling, dizziness, fainting, trouble breathing, yellowing eyes or skin, irregular heartbeat, black stools, increased urination, muscle aches/pains. However, Dr. Kaufman has noted that niacinamide in approprate does (alone or combined with other vitamins) in a thousand patient-years of use has caused no adverse side effects. [ J. Amer Geriat. Society, 1955; 3: pp.927-936] In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug, seek immediate medical attention.
Some brands of niacinamide on the market today contains excipients that act as preservatives, probably meant to prolong shelf life. Some patients have severe adverse reactions to these preparations while most do not experience any ill effects.
Niacinamide has ready entrance to the central nervous system. It has a strong affinity for the central nervous system's benzodiazepine receptors and causes a pleasant calmative effect. In addition, it improves central nervous system function in the kinds of central nervous symptom impairments. These are noted in Dr. Kaufman's 1943 book, Common Forms of Niacinamide Deficiency Disease: Aniacin Amidosis,starting on page 3.
Niacinamide works systemically to improve joint mobility, muscle strength, decreases fatigability. It increases maximal muscle working capacity and reduces or completely eliminates arthritic joint pain. Niacinamide heals broken strands of DNA and improves many kinds of CNS functioning.
Niacinamide can be taken with food to prevent stomach upset. Frequent smaller doses, rather than larger less frequent doses are important in maintaining a steady level in the blood. It seems the half-life of niacinamide in the blood stream is about 4-6 hours. Although not really necessary, if you wanted to minimize the flushing effect (redness, itch) take a plain (not enteric-coated) 325mg aspirin tablet (or other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen) 30 minutes before each niacinamide dose. After a few weeks, this flushing effect should stop occurring, or decrease in intensity. Also, avoid alcohol or hot beverages near the time of the niacinamide dose.
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 Vitamin Niacinamide can help with the following: | | | | | | Aging |  Alzheimer's Disease | An over-the-counter vitamin in high doses prevented memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and UC Irvine scientists now are conducting a clinical trial to determine its effect in humans.
Nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, lowered levels of a protein called phosphorylated tau that leads to the development of tangles, one of two brain lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease. The vitamin also strengthened scaffolding along which information travels in brain cells, helping to keep neurons alive and further preventing symptoms in mice genetically wired to develop Alzheimer's.
"Nicotinamide has a very robust effect on neurons," said Kim Green, UCI scientist and lead author of the study. "Nicotinamide prevents loss of cognition in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and the beauty of it is we already are moving forward with a clinical trial."
Scientists found that the nicotinamide-treated animals had dramatically lower levels of the tau protein that leads to the Alzheimer's tangle lesion. The vitamin did not affect levels of the protein beta amyloid, which clumps in the brain to form plaques, the second type of Alzheimer's lesion.
Nicotinamide, they found, led to an increase in proteins that strengthen microtubules, the scaffolding within brain cells along which information travels. When this scaffolding breaks down, the brain cells can die. Neuronal death leads to dementia experienced by Alzheimer's patients.
"Microtubules are like highways inside cells. What we're doing with nicotinamide is making a wider, more stable highway," Green said. "In Alzheimer's disease, this highway breaks down. We are preventing that from happening."
The study appeared online Nov. 5, 2008 in the Journal of Neuroscience. |
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Allergy |
Allergic Rhinitis / Hay Fever |
Autoimmune |
Diabetes Type I| | Niacinamide improves ATP mitochondrial production in the face of diabetogenic chemicals and thus allows Islet cells to stay alive. The Type I honeymoon period can just be extended 12-18 months and insulin requirements may be less. |
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Infections |
 Sinusitis |
Mental |
Anxiety| | The textbook description of anxiety neurosis exactly matches the symptoms of vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency: hyperactivity, depression, fatigue, apprehension, headache, and insomnia. It has been shown in animals to work in the brain in ways similar to drugs such as benzodiazepines (Valium-type drugs) that are used to treat anxiety. One study found that niacinamide (not niacin) could help people get through withdrawal from benzodiazepines, which is a common problem. A reasonable amount of niacinamide to take for anxiety, according to some doctors, is up to 500mg four times per day.
Niacinamide locks onto the same receptor sites in the brain as do tranquilizers such as Valium, and is a natural tranquilizer. The manufacturer of valium is also the worlds largest manufacturer of niacinamide. [Nature 278: pp.563-65,1979] |
Poor Sense of Humor| | Early signs of Vitamin B3 (Niacin) depletion include the loss of a sense of humor. |
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Metabolic |
Hypoglycemia
Headaches, Migraine/Tension |
Musculo-Skeletal |
Osteoarthritis| | Results may be seen in 3-4 weeks with a plateau of improvement reached at 12 weeks. The dose may be lowered at this time but if discontinued, the symptoms will come back. Intake of 500mg 3-6 times daily has commonly been recommended. Sustained release forms require less frequent dosing.[ Inflamm Res 1996;45: pp.330-4]
Wayne Jonas from the NIH Office of Alternative Medicine conducted a 12 week, double-blind, placebo controlled study of 72 patients to assess the validity of Dr. Kaufman’s earlier work with niacinamide and osteoarthritis. Using a dose of 3 grams of niacinamide per day, they found that overall disease severity was reduced by 29%, inflammation was reduced by 22% and the use of anti-inflammatory medication was reduced by 13%. Patients taking the placebo, on the other hand, either had no improvement, or actually worsened. |
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Nutrients |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Requirement |
Organ Health |
Cirrhosis of the Liver| | Niacinamide can protect the liver against alcohol-induced damage. |
Diabetes Type II / Risk| | Niacinamide improves ATP mitochondrial production in the face of diabetogenic chemicals and thus allows insulin-producing cells of the pancreas to stay alive longer. In one trial, newly diagnosed patients were given niacinamide at 25mg per kg of body weight. This restored the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas in some, slowed the cellular destruction in others and left a number no longer diabetic. Use in diabetic patients should always be monitored by a physician as insulin requirements may change. |
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Risks |
Increased Risk of Alzheimer's / Dementia| | An over-the-counter vitamin in high doses prevented memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and UC Irvine scientists now are conducting a clinical trial to determine its effect in humans.
Nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, lowered levels of a protein called phosphorylated tau that leads to the development of tangles, one of two brain lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease. The vitamin also strengthened scaffolding along which information travels in brain cells, helping to keep neurons alive and further preventing symptoms in mice genetically wired to develop Alzheimer's.
"Nicotinamide has a very robust effect on neurons," said Kim Green, UCI scientist and lead author of the study. "Nicotinamide prevents loss of cognition in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and the beauty of it is we already are moving forward with a clinical trial."
Scientists found that the nicotinamide-treated animals had dramatically lower levels of the tau protein that leads to the Alzheimer's tangle lesion. The vitamin did not affect levels of the protein beta amyloid, which clumps in the brain to form plaques, the second type of Alzheimer's lesion.
Nicotinamide, they found, led to an increase in proteins that strengthen microtubules, the scaffolding within brain cells along which information travels. When this scaffolding breaks down, the brain cells can die. Neuronal death leads to dementia experienced by Alzheimer's patients.
"Microtubules are like highways inside cells. What we're doing with nicotinamide is making a wider, more stable highway," Green said. "In Alzheimer's disease, this highway breaks down. We are preventing that from happening."
The study appeared online Nov. 5, 2008 in the Journal of Neuroscience. |
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Skin-Hair-Nails |
Adult Acne| | Though harder to find, a topically applied 4% solution of niacinamide compared very favorably to Clindamycin in one trial. Oral niacinamide is unlikely to be of benefit. |
Hives| | Should be taken in combination with Tyrosine. See Hives/Tyrosine note. |
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KEY | | May do some good | | | Likely to help |
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