Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Silver· human dataAlso known as: Niacin, Nicotinamide, Niacinamide
A precursor to NAD with lipid claims; high-dose niacin is a drug with real side effects.
Vitamin B3 comes as niacin or nicotinamide and is a precursor to NAD, a coenzyme central to energy metabolism and repair. Dietary deficiency is rare, and covering needs is the everyday role.
High-dose niacin has been used to shift blood lipids, but the outcome evidence is disappointing and it causes flushing and, at pharmacological doses, liver stress — this is medication territory, not casual supplementation. Nicotinamide is the non-flushing form, studied more for skin than for lipids.
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Written and reviewed by Mathew Beale, MSc Biotechnology, University of Reading.
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