1. What is the nutrient?
Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin.
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b3-niacin
2. What is the RDA/DRI for the nutrient?
The RDA/DRI for niacin is as follows:
Age Group (years)
Children 1-3 years
Children 4-8 years
Children 9-13 years
Boys 14-18 years
Girls 14-18 years
Men 19 and older
Women 19 and older
Breastfeeding women
Amount (mg)
6 mg
8 mg
12 mg
16 mg
14 mg
16 mg
14 mg
17 mh
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b3-niacin
3. How is the nutrient metabolized?
Niacin is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Following oral intake, niacininduced vasodilation occurs within 20 minutes and persists for 20 to 60 minutes.
Symptoms of this include: increase in skin temperature, itching and tingling sensations
and flushing. Niacin is metabolized in the liver. Niacin becomes niacinamide and is
widely distributed in the body before being excreted in the urine. Tryptophan is converted
to niacin at 1mg of niacin for 60 mg of tryptophan.
http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS%20Monographs/CPS-%20%28General%20Monographs%20N%29/NIACIN%20%20NIACINAMIDE.html
4. What are food sources of the nutrient?
Food sources of niacin include: beets, brewer’s yeast, beef liver, beef, kidney, fish,
salmon, swordfish, tuna, sunflower seeds and peanuts. Breads and cereals are usually
fortified with niacin as well. Foods that contain tryptophan can also be used as a source
of niacin.
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b3-niacin
5. What disease states alter the nutrients metabolism?
Pellagra is a disease state caused by chronic lack of niacin. For people who are having
larger doses used to treat pellagra or lower cholesterol, niacin is contradicted in those
individuals with hepatic dysfunction, active peptic ulcer diabetes mellitus, hyper uricemia
and gouty arthritis.
6. What are the tests or procedures to assess the nutrient level in the body?
Niacin can be tested using a niacin skin flush test and also a urine test.
7.
What is the drug –nutrient interactions?
Possible interactions are as follows:
Drug
Antibiotics, Tetracycline
Interaction
Niacin interferes with the absorption and
effectiveness of tetracycline
Aspirin
Taking aspirin before niacin may reduce
flushing from niacin
Anti-seizure Medications
These medications may cause niacin
deficiency in some people
Anticoagulants
Niacin may increase effects of these meds,
increasing the risk of bleeding
Blood Pressure Medications
Niacin can make the effects of these drugs
stronger, leading to a risk of low blood
pressure.
Cholesterol Lowering Medications
Niacin binds the cholesterol lowering
medications and may make them less
effective
Statins
Niacin may slow down the progression of
heart disease, however the combination
with statins may increase the chance of
serious side effects
Diabetes Medications
Niacin may increase blood sugar levels
Isoniazid
May cause niacin deficiency
Nicotine Patches
May wrorsen or increase the risk of
flushing
These medications may lower levels of niacin in body:





Azathioprine
Chloramphenicol
Cycloserine
Fluorouracil
Levodopa and carbidopa

Mercaptopurine
8.
How is the nutrient measured?
The most sensitive way to test niacin status is through urinary excretion. For adults, 24hour excretion rates less than 5.8 µmol/day indicated deficiency and levels of
5.8 µmol/day to 17.5 µmol/day indicate low levels of niacin.
9. What is the Upper Tolerable Limits?
The upper tolerable limit is as follows:
Age
Children 1-3y
Children 4-8y
Males 9-13y
Males14-18y
Males 19-30y
Males 31-50y
Males 51-70y
Males >70
Females 9-13y
Females14-18y
Females 19-30y
Females 31-50y
Females 51-70y
Females >70
Pregnancy 14-18y
Pregnancy 19-30y
Pregnancy 31-50y
Lactation 14-18y
Lactation 19-30y
Lactation 31-50y
Amount mg/day
10
15
20
20
30
35
35
35
20
30
35
35
35
35
30
35
35
30
35
35
10.What are the physical signs of deficiency?
Symptoms of mild deficiency are: indigestion, fatigue, canker sores, vomiting and
depression. Severe deficiency is known as a condition of pellagra. Pellagra is
characterized by cracked, scaly skin, dementia and diarrhea.
11.What are physical signs of toxicity?
Megadoses may impair glucose tolerance, may increase plasma homocysteine, can induce
hyperuricemia. It my also cause rash, vomiting, abdominal pain and severe skin flushing.
References
Niacin. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2015, from http://www.gbhealthwatch.com/NutrientNiacin-Overview.php
RxMed: Pharmaceutical Information - NIACIN NIACINAMIDE. (n.d.). Retrieved April
21, 2015, from
http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPSMonographs/CPS- (General Monographs- N)/NIACIN NIACINAMIDE.html
Vitamin B3 (Niacin). (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2015, from
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b3-niacin