![<img src='https://images.vital.ly/monographs/tr:w-800,c-at_max,dpr-2,q-100/niacinamide_vital_ly.png' /> Niacinamide](https://images.vital.ly/monographs/tr:w-800,c-at_max,dpr-2,q-100/niacinamide_vital_ly.png)
Niacinamide
Scientific names: Pyridine-3-carboxamide
Alternate names: 3-Pyridine Carboxamide, 3-Pyridinecarboxamide, Amide de l'Acide Nicotinique, B Complex Vitamin, Complexe de Vitamines B, Niacinamida, Niacinamide Ascorbate, Nicamid, Nicosedine, Nicotinamide, Nicotinic Acid Amide, Nicotylamidum, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B3a, Vitamina B3, Vitamine B3
Actions: Anti-cancer, Antidiabetes, Anti-inflammatory, Cardiovascular, Dermatologic, Radiosensitizing
Background
Niacinamide, also called nicotinamide, is a form of vitamin B3. It's found in many foods including meat, fish, milk, eggs, green vegetables, and cereals.
Niacinamide is required for the function of fats and sugars in the body and to maintain healthy cells. Niacin is converted to niacinamide when it is taken in amounts greater than what is needed by the body. Unlike niacin, niacinamide doesn't help treat high cholesterol.
People use niacinamide to prevent vitamin B3 deficiency and related conditions such as pellagra. It is also used for acne, diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis, aging skin, skin discoloration, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Do not confuse niacinamide with niacin, NADH, nicotinamide riboside, inositol nicotinate, or L-tryptophan. These are not the same.
Niacinamide is required for the function of fats and sugars in the body and to maintain healthy cells. Niacin is converted to niacinamide when it is taken in amounts greater than what is needed by the body. Unlike niacin, niacinamide doesn't help treat high cholesterol.
People use niacinamide to prevent vitamin B3 deficiency and related conditions such as pellagra. It is also used for acne, diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis, aging skin, skin discoloration, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Do not confuse niacinamide with niacin, NADH, nicotinamide riboside, inositol nicotinate, or L-tryptophan. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Niacinamide is likely safe when used appropriately. Prescription products containing niacinamide are safe when taken as directed. Niacinamide-containing foods or supplements are safe when taken in doses lower than 35 mg daily. Niacinamide is possibly safe when taken in doses up to 900-1500 mg daily. It might cause side effects such as stomach upset, gas, dizziness, headache, and rash.
When applied to the skin: Niacinamide is possibly safe. Niacinamide cream might cause mild burning, itching, or redness.
Children: Niacinamide is likely safe when taken by mouth in the recommended amounts by age. Children should avoid taking niacinamide doses above the daily upper limits, which are 10 mg for children 1-3 years of age, 15 mg for children 4-8 years of age, 20 mg for children 9-13 years of age, and 30 mg for children 14-18 years of age.
Diabetes: Niacinamide might increase blood sugar. People with diabetes who take niacinamide should check their blood sugar regularly.
Gallbladder disease: Niacinamide might make gallbladder disease worse.
Kidney dialysis: Taking niacinamide seems to increase the risk of low platelet levels in people with kidney failure who are on dialysis.
Stomach or intestinal ulcers: Niacinamide might make ulcers worse. Don't use it if you have ulcers.
When applied to the skin: Niacinamide is possibly safe. Niacinamide cream might cause mild burning, itching, or redness.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Niacinamide is likely safe when taken in recommended amounts. The maximum recommended amount while pregnant or breast-feeding is 30 mg daily for those under 18 years of age, and 35 mg daily for those over 18 years of age.Children: Niacinamide is likely safe when taken by mouth in the recommended amounts by age. Children should avoid taking niacinamide doses above the daily upper limits, which are 10 mg for children 1-3 years of age, 15 mg for children 4-8 years of age, 20 mg for children 9-13 years of age, and 30 mg for children 14-18 years of age.
Diabetes: Niacinamide might increase blood sugar. People with diabetes who take niacinamide should check their blood sugar regularly.
Gallbladder disease: Niacinamide might make gallbladder disease worse.
Kidney dialysis: Taking niacinamide seems to increase the risk of low platelet levels in people with kidney failure who are on dialysis.
Stomach or intestinal ulcers: Niacinamide might make ulcers worse. Don't use it if you have ulcers.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Likely effective Effectiveness definitions
- A disease cause by niacin deficiency (pellagra). Niacinamide prescription products are US FDA approved for preventing and treating pellagra. It's sometimes preferred over niacin because it doesn't cause flushing, a side effect of niacin treatment.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- Acne. Applying a cream containing niacinamide seems to improve the appearance of skin in people with acne.
- Diabetes. Taking niacinamide by mouth might help slow the progression of type 1 diabetes. But it doesn't seem to prevent diabetes.
- High levels of phosphate in the blood (hyperphosphatemia). In people who need hemodialysis due to kidney failure and have high levels of phosphate, taking niacinamide by mouth seems to help decrease phosphate levels.
- Nonmelanoma skin cancer. Taking niacinamide by mouth seems to help prevent new skin cancer or precancerous spots from forming in people with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer.
- Osteoarthritis. Taking niacinamide by mouth seems to improve joint flexibility and reduce pain and swelling in people with osteoarthritis.
Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions
- Brain tumor. Taking niacinamide by mouth while undergoing chemotherapy doesn't seem to benefit people with brain tumors.
Dosing & administration
In supplements, niacinamide might be listed on the label in niacin equivalents (NE). 1 mg of niacinamide is the same as 1 mg NE. Niacinamide is found in many vitamin B complex supplements with other B vitamins. It's also used in many topical creams and gels.
Niacinamide is also found in many foods, including meat, fish, milk, eggs, vegetables, and cereals. The amount that should be consumed on a daily basis is called the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). In males, the RDA is 16 mg NE. In females, the RDA is 14 mg NE. While pregnant, the RDA is 18 mg NE. While breast-feeding, the RDA is 17 mg NE. In children, the RDA depends on age. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
Niacinamide is also found in many foods, including meat, fish, milk, eggs, vegetables, and cereals. The amount that should be consumed on a daily basis is called the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). In males, the RDA is 16 mg NE. In females, the RDA is 14 mg NE. While pregnant, the RDA is 18 mg NE. While breast-feeding, the RDA is 17 mg NE. In children, the RDA depends on age. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Carbamazepine is broken down by the body. Niacinamide might decrease how fast the body breaks down carbamazepine. But it isn't clear if this is a major concern.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Niacinamide might slow blood clotting. Taking niacinamide along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Primidone (Mysoline)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Primidone is broken down by the body. Niacinamide might decrease how fast the body breaks down primidone. But there isn't enough information to know if this is a major concern.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Niacinamide might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Per 7.5 g:
- Nicotinamide riboside chloride (Vitamin B3) 100 mg equiv. ribose 52 mg
- D-Ribose 4.6 g
- Acetyl levocarnitine hydrochloride (Acetyl-L-carnitine) 1 g
- Calcium pyruvate 666 mg equiv. calcium 100 mg
- Magnesium citrate 647 mg equiv. magnesium 100 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 65 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 60 mg
- Taurine 50 mg
- Biotin 1 mg
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Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 220 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 56 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 50 mg equiv. pyridoxine 41 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 30 mg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 400 μg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 105 mg
- Taurine 125 mg
- L-glutamine 100 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 75 mg
- Potassium phosphate dibasic 50 mg equiv. potassium 22 mg
- Choline bitartrate 50 mg
- Lecithin 50 mg
- L-lysine 50 mg
- Potassium aspartate 50 mg equiv. potassium 10 mg
- Calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate 49 mg equiv. calcium 12 mg
- Magnesium citrate 44 mg equiv. magnesium 7 mg
- Zinc sulphate monohydrate 42 mg equiv. zinc 15 mg
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (low-alpha type) (Vitamin E) 15 mg equiv. d-alpha tocopherol 2.5 mg
- Borax 4.4 mg equiv. boron 500 μg
- Chromium nicotinate 500 μg equiv. chromium 50 μg
- Folic acid 395 μg
- Selenomethionine 63 μg equiv. selenium 25 μg
- Manganese sulphate monohydrate 55 μg equiv. manganese 18 μg
- Biotin 50 μg
- Potassium iodide (Iodine) 46 μg equiv. iodine 35 μg equiv. potassium 11 μg
- Copper gluconate 43 μg equiv. copper 6 μg
- Cholecalciferol 1 μg
- Iron bisglycinate 50 mg equiv. iron 10 mg
- Dunaliella salina ext. 67 mg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 220 mg
- Nicotinic acid (Vitamin B3) 5 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 50 mg equiv. thiamine 43.26 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 50.13 mg equiv. pyridoxine 40 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 27.4 mg equiv. riboflavin 20 mg
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 500 μg
- Selenomethionine 64.58 μg equiv. selenium 26 μg
- Retinol acetate 884 μg equiv. vitamin A 750 μg RE
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 100 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 88 mg equiv. calcium 8.4 mg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 278 μg equiv. folinic acid 200 μg
- Levomefolate calcium (Activated folate) 216.56 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 200 μg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 121 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 100 mg equiv. calcium 11.4 mg
- Cholecalciferol 2.5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 100 IU
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 28 mg equiv. vitamin E 34 IU
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (low-alpha type) 13.5 mg
- R,S-alpha lipoic acid 10 mg
- Biotin 150 μg
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 6 mg
- Choline bitartrate 40 mg
- Cysteine hydrochloride 21.74 mg equiv. cysteine 15 mg
- L-glutamine 40 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 5 mg
- Inositol 25 mg
- Lecithin 15 mg
- Rutin (Rutoside) 10 mg
- Taurine 85 mg
- Chromium nicotinate 208.34 μg equiv. chromium 25 μg
- Potassium iodide (Iodine) 40.55 μg equiv. iodine 31 μg equiv. potassium 9.55 μg
- Magnesium phosphate pentahydrate 48.4 mg equiv. magnesium 10 mg
- Manganese gluconate 438.6 μg equiv. manganese 50 μg
- Potassium phosphate monobasic 48.73 mg equiv. potassium 14 mg
- Zinc gluconate 109.88 mg equiv. zinc 14.35 mg
- Molybdenum trioxide 75 μg equiv. molybdenum 50 μg
- Rosa canina powder 10 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 10 mg equiv. pyridoxine 6.38 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 5 mg
- Lysine hydrochloride 35 mg equiv. lysine 28 mg
- Cupric citrate hemipentahydrate 17 μg equiv. copper 6 μg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 200 mg
- Glucosamine sulphate potassium chloride 663 mg equiv. glucosamine sulphate 500 mg
- Boswellia serrata ext. 66.7 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 4 mg
- Sodium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 112.5 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 100 mg
- Magnesium orotate dihydrate 103.6 mg equiv. magnesium 6.6 mg
- Manganese amino acid chelate 50 mg equiv. manganese 5 mg
- Cholecalciferol 2.5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 100 IU
- Silybum marianum ext. 5 mg
- Vitis vinifera ext. 1 mg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 200 mg
- Glucosamine sulphate potassium chloride 663 mg equiv. glucosamine sulphate 500 mg equiv. potassium chloride 163 mg
- Cholecalciferol 2.5 µg equiv. vitamin D3 100 IU
- Boswellia serrata ext. 57.1 mg
- Sodium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 112.5 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 100 mg
- Lecithin 100 mg
- Magnesium orotate dihydrate 103.58 mg equiv. magnesium 6.7 mg
- Manganese amino acid chelate 25 mg equiv. manganese 5 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 5 mg
- Vitis vinifera ext. 1 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 4 mg
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Per tablet:
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 187.5 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 546 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 500 mg
- Zinc gluconate 57.43 mg equiv. zinc 7.5 mg
- Retinyl acetate 206.4 μg equiv. vitamin A 175 μg RE
- Biotin 500 μg
- Urtica dioica ext. 93.75 mg
- Copper gluconate 2.7 mg equiv. copper 375 μg
- Silica - colloidal anhydrous 26.7 mg equiv. silicon 12.5 mg
- Folic acid 125 μg
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Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 150 mg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 542 μg equiv. folinic acid 500 μg
- Hydroxocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 500 μg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 63.5 mg equiv. thiamine 50 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 26.3 mg equiv. riboflavin 20 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 218.3 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 200 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) 31.3 mg equiv. pyridoxine 20 mg
- Inositol 100 mg
- Biotin 500 μg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 150 mg
- Thiamine nitrate (Vitamin B1) 100 mg equiv. thiamine 81.1 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 50 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 110 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 100.8 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 75 mg equiv. pyridoxine 61.7 mg
- Folic acid 150 µg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 150 µg
- Biotin 150 µg
- Choline bitartrate 137.5 mg
- Inositol 100 mg
- Camellia sinensis ext. 113.75 mg
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Discontinued by Eagle Clinical
Practitioner product
Per 10 g (Guava Lemonade):
- Nicotinamide riboside chloride (Vitamin B3) 150 mg
- Total Magnesium 360 mg
- Magnesium aspartate dihydrate 1.4 g equiv. magnesium 105 mg
- Magnesium glycerophosphate 1.15 g equiv. magnesium 127 mg
- Magnesium citrate 792.1 mg equiv. magnesium 128 mg
- Taurine 3 g
- Potassium aspartate 47.6 mg equiv. potassium 10 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 130 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 25 mg equiv. riboflavin 19.7 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 23.5 mg equiv. pyridoxine 15 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 196.5 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 180 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 63.6 mg equiv. thiamine 50 mg
- Biotin 500 μg
Practitioner product
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