Download Niacin

Cassandra Detgen
KNH 413
April 19, 2012
MNT Nutrient – Niacin
1. What is the nutrient? (Zieve, Eltz, & Ehrlich, 2011 & PubMed Health, 2012)
Niacin aka vitamin B3. Niacin is a B vitamin, which helps the body convert
carbohydrates into glucose and is able to be used for energy. This vitamin also helps
contribute to a healthy liver. Lastly, niacin helps improve the body’s circulation.
2. What is the RDA/DRI for the nutrient? (USDA, 1998)
Age
0 – 6 months
7 – 12 months
1 – 3 years
4 – 8 years
9 – 13 years
14 – 18 years
19 + years
Pregnant
Breastfeeding
RDA
2 mg
4 mg
6 mg
8 mg
12 mg
M: 16 mg, F: 14 mg
M: 16 mg, F: 14 mg
18 mg
17 mg
3. How is the nutrient metabolized? (RxMed)
Niacin is metabolized in the liver to niacinamide. Since only a portion is converted, the
rest is excreted through the urine.
4. What are food sources of the nutrient? (Zieve, Eltz, & Ehrlich, 2011)
Niacin could be found in a variety of foods. The major sources include animal products,
but there are also other sources. Some animal sources include beef liver and kidney, fish,
salmon, swordfish and tuna. Other sources include beets, brewer’s yeast, sunflower seeds,
and peanut butter. Then niacin can be fortified into bread and cereal.
5. What disease states alter the nutrients metabolism? (Zieve, Eltz, & Ehrlich, 2011)
There are certain problems that can affect someone’s health that can be changed with
niacin. When it comes to high cholesterol, the intake of niacin can help put the
cholesterol back into a normal range by slowly lowering the level. Niacin can help slow
the progression of heart disease and can improve symptoms of arthritis by increasing the
movement of joints.
6. What are the tests or procedures to assess the nutrient level in the body? (Saul, 2008)
A doctor can always test niacin levels by using a blood test. Another way that niacin can
be detected is a “niacin flush” test. This is when either gradual or a specific amount of
niacin is taken on an empty stomach to see if flushing occurs. This test can be used to
determine the saturation level as well as if there is an intrinsic factor for vegetarians.
Lastly, there is a BBL Taxo TB Niacin test strip that can help detect if niacin has been
produced by mycobacteria.
7. What is the drug –nutrient interactions? (Zieve, Eltz, & Ehrlich, 2011)
There are many drug nutrient reactions that could occur with niacin.
Drug
Tetracycline (antibiotic)
Aspirin
Anti-seizure meds
Anticoagulants
Blood pressure and alpha-blockers
Cholesterol lowering meds
Statins
Diabetes meds
Isoniazid
Nicotene patches
Interaction
Interferes with absorption/effectiveness of meds
May reduce flushing
Can cause niacin deficiency or increase levels
Increase the risk of bleeding
Risk of low blood pressure
Make the meds less effective since they bind
May slow progression of heart disease, but could cause
muscle inflammation or liver damage
Increase blood sugar levels
Can cause niacin deficiency
Increase the risk of flushing
8. How is the nutrient measured? (USDA, 1998)
Niacin is measured in milligrams.
9. What is the Upper Tolerable Limits? (USDA, 1998)
Age
Infants
1 – 3 years
4 – 8 years
9 – 13 years
14 – 18 years
19 + years
Breastfeeding
Upper Limit
10 mg
15 mg
20 mg
30 mg
35 mg
30 – 35 mg
10. What are the physical signs of deficiency? (Zieve, Eltz, & Ehrlich, 2011)
There are mild and severe deficiencies that could occur. The mild deficiency symptoms
include indigestion, fatigue, canker sores, vomiting, and depression. A severe deficiency
is not very common in the US, but it is highly related to alcohol abuse. The severe
deficiency is also known as pellagra. Symptoms of pellagra are cracked and scaly skin,
dementia, a bright-red tongue, and diarrhea.
11. What are physical signs of toxicity? (Zieve, Eltz, & Ehrlich, 2011)
High doses of niacin can cause someone to have an upset stomach, headaches, dizziness,
and blurred vision. There is also a risk for liver damage. The most common symptom of
too much niacin results in a “niacin flush.” A niacin flush causes burning and tingling
sensations in the face and chest producing a red tint to the skin.
Bibliography
Niacin. (1998). Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate,
Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline (pp. 123-149). Retrieved from USDA
website: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/DRI//DRI_Thiamin/123-149_150.pdf
Niacin. (2012). Retrieved from PubMed Health website:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000700/
Niacin Niacinamide. (n.d.). Retrieved from RxMed website: http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/
b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS%20(General%
20Monographs-%20N)/NIACIN%20%20NIACINAMIDE.html
Saul. (2008). How to Determine Your Saturation Level of Niacin. Retrieved from Doctor
Yourself website: http://www.doctoryourself.com/niacin.html
Taxo™ TB Niacin Test Strips. (2010). Retrieved from BD website:
http://www.bd.com/ds/productCenter/231741.asp
Zieve, Eltz, & Ehrlich. (2011). Vitamin B3 (Niacin). Retrieved from University of Maryland
Medical Center website: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/vitamin-b3-000335.htm