The Role Of Vitamin B3 Niacin
Vitamin B3 niacin is an essential vitamin for your body. It is just one of the eight water soluble types of B vitamins. Also known as complex B vitamins. Nearly all of the B vitamin classes will help the body produce energy. It converts carbohydrates into sugar or glucose, which can then be burned to generate energy. B3 niacin are essential in helping the body break down protein and fat. Nicotinamide is a form of Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Complex B vitamins including B3 Niacin also play an important role with maintaining muscle tone within the digestive tract. Along with the health of the skin, nervous system, live, eyes, hair, and mouth. Even though a lot of people associate creative with the aspect of muscles and muscle tone, vitamin B3 niacin is as equally important – if not more important.
B3 niacin is also important with getting harmful or toxic chemicals out of the body. It can also help the body produce different sex and stress related hormones within the adrenal glands, among other parts of the body. The vitamin is also useful for helping with sexual dysfunction as well. This can be great news for those who have problems with pleasing their mate.
Vitamin B3 Anti-cancer
In a Meta-analysis including 19 studies showed that a dietary intake of Vitamin B complex including Vitamin B3 decreased the risk of esophageal cancer.(1)
Vitamin B3 Anti-Cholesterol
Also very effective with improving circulation, B3 niacin can also help to reduce cholesterol levels as well as triglycerides found in the blood. High cholesterol and triglycerides blood levels are risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. Even though vitamin B3 niacin is great as a stand alone supplement, it should also consumed with foods that contain protein. In fact; the body is able to convert the amino acid known as tryptophan into niacin inside the liver in the presence iron and Vitamin B6.
High tryptophan foods include nuts, seeds, tofu, cheese, red meat, chicken, turkey, fish, oats, beans, lentils, and eggs. The higher doses of B3 niacin, which are available only through prescription, have been proven to prevent and also improve a variety of different symptoms and ailments.
Who should be Cautious with Vitamin B3
While vitamin B3 (niacin) from foods is not known to cause adverse effects, side effects have been reported with preparations of niacin for disease treatment. People with abnormal liver functions or a history of liver disease, diabetes, active peptic ulcer disease, gout, cardiac arrhythmias, inflammatory bowel disease, migraine headaches, and alcoholism may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of excess nicotinic acid intake than the general population. (2)
Niacin and the Skin
There are also niacin skin care products that are being developed as well, which contain anti-aging products, helping to treat acne and also aid in the prevention of skin cancer. Dermatologists expect that these products will become really popular over the next several years. Research has proven them to be very effective when compared to the other types of products. The prophylactic application of niacinamide was able to maintain quality of life for breast cancer patients while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. (3)
Vitamin B3 and The brain
Nicotinamide intake improves and accelerates recovery after brain trauma in experimental research. (4) This can suggest a neuroprotective role in addition to the antioxidants effects of Nicotinamide. Vitamin B3 deficiency can cause severe neurological complaints. Depression, anxiety, vertigo, memory loss, paranoia, psychotic symptoms, aggression (Pellagrous insanity) were reported. (5)
Best Sources of Vitamin B3
The best natural sources for vitamin B3 niacin include beef, pork, turkey, beets, veal, fish, chicken, salmon, tuna, mushrooms and peanuts. You can also get supplements that contain B3 niacin as well. Supplements can give your body the amounts it needs. This is a very important vitamin, as it does a lot more for the body than most think. By consuming foods that contain it or taking the proper supplements – you’ll get the amount of B vitamins that your body needs on a daily basis.