Vitamin B3 (niacin)

Vitamin B3 (also called niacin, niacinamide, or nicotinic acid) is an essential nutrient required for proper metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and for the production of hydrochloric acid. Vitamin B3 also supports circulation, healthy skin, and aids in the functioning of the central nervous system. Because of its role in supporting the higher functions of the brain and cognition, vitamin B3 also plays an important role in the
treatment of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, and in stabilizing cognitive functions. Adequate levels of B3 are vital for the proper synthesis of insulin, and the sex hormones, estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. Natural food sources for vitamin B3 include beef, broccoli, carrots, cheese, corn flour, eggs, fish, milk, potatoes, and tomatoes. Foods containing vitamin B3, however, provide minimal amounts of this vitamin. A deficiency in vitamin B3 can result in pellagra, a disorder characterized by malfunctioning of the nervous system and gastrointestinal upset. Classically, the three cardinal symptoms are diarrhea, dementia, and dermatitis. Recently, niacin has been embraced by the medical community
for its ability to safely lower cholesterol and triglyceride serum levels. The dosing required is between 500 and 2000 mg daily. Doses exceeding 1000 mg can lead to hepatoxicity and are more common in the timed-release niacin supplements. When recommending doses in this range, liver function tests need to be monitored Niacin at any dose may result in a niacin flush, a natural reaction that is harmless but can be uncomfortable. A niacin flush generally results in a burning, tingling, and itching sensation, accompanied by a reddening flush
that spreads across the skin of the face, arms, and chest, typically lasting 5 to 60 minutes . A nonflush form of niacin now exists, which may be better tolerated by some patients, but this is the form that is more apt to cause potential liver problems. There is no accepted standard niacin dosing for tinnitus. Typically, the senior author recommends beginning at 50 mg twice a day. After 2 weeks, if there is no improvement, the patient increases the dose by 50 mg at each interval to a maximum dose of 500 mg twice per day. Higher doses can be recommended, but it is advised to monitor liver function tests. Niacin may provoke migraine headache attacks in some people and appropriate warning is justified. High doses should be used with caution in pregnant women. Mega doses of pure niacin can aggravate health problems, such as stomach ulcers, gout, glaucoma, and diabetes mellitus. Unfortunately, there is no clinical proof for the effectiveness of niacin in treating tinnitus. This is inherently difficult to prove because of a possible placebo effect arising from the niacin flush sensation rather than any therapeutic value of the underlying vasodilation. It has been noted that there is a favorable response to niacin in some patients. There have been other anecdotal reports of the benefit of niacin in treating tinnitus. Some health care providers advocate taking niacin in combination with thiamine. The 1994 text on myofascial pain, Trigger Points, states that niacin without thiamine seems to provide little relief for tinnitus [10]. This has not,
however, been the senior author’s experience. The combination dosing is two parts niacinamide for each one part thiamine. Some supplements come balanced in this proportion. There have also been reports of niacin working in combination with lecithin, a group of phospholipids that yield two fatty acid molecules and one molecule each of glycerophosphric acid and choline after hydrolysis. Lecithin is found in nervous tissue, especially myelin sheaths, and in the plasma membrane of plant and animal cells. The theory is that the lecithin, being an emulsifier, helps disperse the buildup of fats in the capillaries, and the niacin helps dilate the capillaries to allow the lecithin in. The phosphatidylcholine
portion of lecithin, however, is a precursor of acetylcholine and should be avoided in people who are manic-depressive because it may worsen the depressive phase. Compelling evidence exists from experiments in the authors’ laboratory demonstrating that aged rats supplemented with a diet rich in phosphatidylcholine have improved auditory sensitivity when compared with placebo-supplemented rats. Furthermore, study of the subjects’ mitochondrial function reveals a statistically significant improvement in mitochondrial energy production in the treated groups compared with placebo. Nature Made Vitamin B-3