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Vitamin B3
Description: Vitamin B3 (in the forms of Niacin and Niacinamide) is used by the body to release energy from carbohydrates. It’s also needed to form fat from carbohydrate and to process alcohol. Niacin is helpful in regulating cholesterol.
Pellagra is a disease caused by Vitamin B3 deficiency. It is rare in Western societies. Symptoms include loss of appetite, skin rash, diarrhea, and digestive and emotional disturbances.
Vitamin B3 also is effective in the treatment of anxiety, acting similarly to Valium.1 It makes an excellent bridge when stopping Valium treatments, easing the withdrawal symptoms.2
When Vitamins B2 and B3 are taken daily, the incidence of cataracts decreases.3
Vitamin B3 (niacin), when taken in high doses, lowers cholesterol.4 However, since it can be toxic in high doses, many natural doctors suggest the use of Inositol hexaniacinate instead.
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) may also be helpful in the treatment of hypoglycemia.5
Vitamin B3 (Riboflavin) is necessary for mitochondrial metabolism. It also appears to reduce the severity and frequency of migraines by at least 50%.6
One form of Vitamin B3, niacinamide, appears to increase joint mobility, improve muscle strength, and decrease muscle and joint fatigue in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients.7 250 mg taken at least four times daily appears to show results in three to four months.8
Vitamin B3 (niacin) taken during the first trimester of pregnancy has been connected with larger and healthier babies at birth.9

Natural Sources: Brewer’s Yeast, Fish, Meat, Peanuts.

Useful in treatment of: anxiety, cataracts, high cholesterol, hypoglycemia, migraines, osteoarthritis, pregnancy and Post Partum, rheumatoid arthritis.

Recommended Dosage: 10 to 25 mg daily.

Contraindications: Large doses may cause headaches and stomach upset, as well as liver damage, diabetes, gastritis, and eye damage.

References:

1Mohler H, Polc P, Cumin R, et al. Niacinamide is a brain constituent with benzodiazepine-like actions. Nature 1979;278:563–65.
2Vescovi PP et al. Nicotinic acid effectiveness in the treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal. Curr Ther Res 1987;41:1017.
3Sperduto RD, Hu TS, Milton RC, et al. The Linxian cataract studies. Arch Ophthalmol 1993;111:1246-53.
4Brown WV. Niacin for lipid disorders. Postgrad Med 1995;98:185–93.
5Shansky A. Vitamin B3 in the alleviation of hypoglycemia. Drug Cosm Ind 1981;129(4):68–69,104–5
6Schoenen J, et al. Effectiveness of high-dose riboflavin in migraine prophylaxis. A randomized controlled trial. Neurology 1998 Feb;50(2):466-70.
7Kaufman W. The use of vitamin therapy to reverse certain concomitants of aging. J Am Geriatr Soc 1955;11:927.
8Jonas WB, Rapoza CP, Blair WF. The effect of niacinamide on osteoarthritis: A pilot study. Inflamm Res 1996;45:330–4.
9Doyle W et al. The association between maternal diet and birth dimensions. J Nutr Med 1990;1:9–17.
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