Niacin
Niacin Brand names, Niacin Analogs
Niacin Brand Names Mixture
- No information avaliable
Niacin Chemical_Formula
C6H5N1O2
Niacin RX_link
No information avaliable
Niacin fda sheet
Niacin msds (material safety sheet)
Niacin Synthesis Reference
No information avaliable
Niacin Molecular Weight
123.111 g/mol
Niacin Melting Point
237 oC
Niacin H2O Solubility
Slightly soluble in water.
Niacin State
Solid
Niacin LogP
0.225
Niacin Dosage Forms
No information avaliable
Niacin Indication
For nutritional supplementation, also for treating dietary shortage or imbalance.
Niacin Pharmacology
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid or vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin whose derivatives such as NADH play essential roles in energy metabolism in the living cell. The designation vitamin B3 also includes the amide form, nicotinamide or niacinamide. Severe lack of niacin causes the deficiency disease pellagra, whereas a mild deficiency slows down the metabolism, which in turn decreases cold tolerance and is a potential contributing factor towards obesity. The body can synthesize niacin from the essential amino acid tryptophan, but the synthesis is extremely slow. Large doses of niacin are sometimes prescribed to combat high blood pressure, and also to lower blood cholesterol levels. Pharmacologic doses of niacin (1.5 to 6 grams/day) reduce LDL cholesterol levels by 10 to 25 percent and triglyceride levels by 20 to 50 percent. HDL cholesterol levels are also increased by 15 to 35 percent.1 Brand-name medications include Niaspan®, Niacor® and Nicolor®. Treatment doses cause flushing in individuals not previously exposed to large doses of niacin, so titration to increasing doses is necessary upon starting the medication. Vitamin B3 has also been used to treat schizophrenia and other mental illnesses by orthomolecular practitioners. Usually the nicotinamide form is used, as it is considered to be more effective. Unfortunately there is little scientific evidence that this treatment is effective. Because niacin promotes metabolism, some believe that taking large doses will speed up the elimination of THC from the body and produce a negative result for marijuana on a drug test. There is no evidence that this is effective, and niacin is toxic to the skin and liver in overdose.
Niacin Absorption
No information avaliable
Niacin side effects and Toxicity
Oral rat LD50: 7,000 mg/kg. Investigated as a tumorigen.
Niacin Patient Information
No information avaliable
Niacin Organisms Affected
Humans and other mammals
