Vitamin B3 is essential
for your overall health!

Vitamin B3 is also called Niacin. It is one out of eight water soluble B Vitamins and is called B3 because it was the third vitamin B to be discovered.

Hugo Weidel was the first to describe niacin in 1873 with his studies of nicotine. The original preparation is significant with the oxidation of nicotine using nitric acid.

To dissociate the vitamin from nicotine, the word niacin was derived from (ni)cotine (ac)id + vitam(in).

B3 is one of the five vitamins that are most commonly deficient worldwide.

B Vitamins are needed for the nervous system, good digestion and enzyme reactions.

* It lowers bad cholesterol while raising the good cholesterol and prevents high blood pressure which helps reduce the risk of heart disease.

* People with asthma-induced wheezing may find less incidence with B3.

* It may help in treating or preventing atherosclerosis, a second heart attack, Alzheimer's disease and osteoarthritis.

* Controls energy in the cells.

* Breakdown of fats and proteins.

* Maintains muscle tone along the digestive tract.

* Circulation.

* Makes sex and stress-related hormones in the adrenal glands.

* Mental and physical health (studies have shown it could prevent symptoms of Alzheimer’s).

* Assists in regulating blood sugar levels, helps convert carbs into glucose (sugar) which is burned to produce energy.

* Needed to maintain healthy skin, hair, eyes, mouth and liver.

* Wound healing and skin that's burned.

* Help the immune system fight off viral infections.

* DNA repair.

* Getting rid of toxins.

* Anti-aging and acne.

* May help prevent skin cancer.

* Overall health.

* Eating protein with niacin can help the body convert the tryptophan (a type of amino acid) into niacin.

Severe deficiencies causes pellagra disease (symptoms include cracked, scaly skin, dementia, and diarrhea).

Symptoms of mild deficiencies:

Slows down the metabolism and you become more susceptible to colds.

Indigestion.

Fatigue.

Depression.

Vomiting.

Canker Sores.

Burning of the mouth.

Swollen, bright red tongue.

Corn (maize) is the only grain that is low in niacin; if corn is the staple food of the diet, you can be deficient in B3 if lime is not used as a fertilizer.(Lime releases tryptophan a beneficial amino acid, which converts into niacin.)

+ Fortified breads and cereals, whole grains, legumes

+Chicken, tuna and salmon, veal, beef, liver, heart and kidney

+Avocados, beets and sunflower seeds

+ Dates, tomatoes, leaf vegetables, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, asparagus, mushrooms and brewer’s yeast

Recommendation: With a meal, 50 mg of B3 (niacinamide) as part of a B-complex of B1 (thiamine), B12 (cobalamin), B2 (riboflavin) and the rest of the B vitamins.

High doses can cause niacin flush which is burning, tingling sensation on the face and chest.

People who have the following issues should consult a health care provider if they are considering taking B3:

Liver damage
Stomach ulcers
Gout
Diabetes
Gall Bladder Disease

People taking the following medications should also consult a health care provider if they are considering taking B3:

Antibiotics such as Tetracycline
Aspirin
Blood pressure medications (Alpha blockers)
Cholesterol-lowering medications
Diabetes medications
Isoniazid (tuberculosis medication)
Nicotine patches

Vitamin B3 is a common deficiency in our modern world of stress and poor nutrition. This vitamin addresses a lot of our bodies normal, daily functions. Talking to people, I see how we are lacking in this nutrient and I hope the above information will help in understanding how important it is to take this essential nutritional supplement.

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