Download Niacin (Vitamin B 3 )

Niacin
(Vitamin B3)
FN 4320
Ashley O’Brien &
Molly Sandmann
3/24/14
Introduction
Niacin is known as the most catastrophic nutritional disease in American history due to
its deficiency. Its deficiency is termed as “pellagra” as described by Casal in the year 1762. 200
years later, pellagra took the United States by storm with killing over 120,000 people in the first
two decades in the 20th century. Finally, in 1942 the government established legal mandates for
the enrichment of niacin in all flour products. Niacin, the water-soluble B3 vitamin, is commonly
referred to as nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, and other derivatives. Niacin depends on the
biological effects and the rate of uptake of each compound to decide which form it will be best
suited for.
Figure 1
Nicotinamide
Nicotinic acid
Metabolic Pathway
The metabolic pathway of Niacin is served as not only a precursor to NAD, but also as a
mechanism that possibly link metabolic syndrome. Although the links are unknown to metabolic
syndrome, they do know that Niacin plays a great role in increasing high density lipoproteins
(HDL) and reduces triglycerides (TG) (1). Niacin it one of few water soluble vitamin that can be
synthesized in the body through tryptophan, however, it is not enough to sustain us (2).
Figure 2
Metabolism of Niacin.
NUA: nicotinuric acid, NAM: Nicotinamide, 6HN:6-hydroxynicotinamide, NNO: nicotinamide-N-oxide
MNA: N-methylnicotinamide, NAD: nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, 2PY: N-methyl-2-pyradone-5-carboxamide
4PY: N-methyl-4-pyradone-5-carboxamide.
In this diagram of the metabolism it shows that Niacin is broken down into two
compounds; nicotinuric acid and nicotinamide. Nicotinic acid (Niacin) has been thought to be
correlated in the onsets of metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular issues, when not enough is
present (2). NAM is them broken down into 4 substrates that all have effects on lipoprotein
digestion in the body, and restricting free fatty acids (3). The term nicotinamide and nicotinic
acid (Niacin) are usually used interchangeably, however NAM alone will not help lower
cholesterol or cause flushing (3,4), plus nicotinamide cannot be used in pharmacological doses
due to the threat for damaging the liver. Nicatinic acid is able to be used as pharmaceutical
doses. After being broken down NAM then serves its purpose by producing NAD. The NAD is
then recycled and turned in to energy for the body and used to once again synthesize Niacin(4).
Discussed later on will be the toxicity levels and reaction with taking niacin supplements
to help improve patients who have metabolic syndrome or diabetes. Nicotinic acid (Niacin) is
proved to help increase the amounts of HDL in the body, as well as lowering TG levels. This is a
major role in helping patients with diabetes, onsets, or do have metabolic syndrome and CVD
(5).
Deficiency
There are numerous deficiencies correlated to Niacin, many of which can be deadly
and/or greatly affect the health status of humans. Some deficiencies include: lipid disorders,
cardiovascular complications, flushing, alcohol decrease B3 and pellagra. As said previous
pellagra used to be an epidemic in the late 1800’s, early 1900’s. Pellagra in Latin means “angry
skin”. Symptoms of pellagra would include crusty dry skin that is rash like on the face, and
around the neck line. Amenia, Amnesia, dementia, and swollen tongue are also more severe
symptoms of Niacin deficiency. In the early 1900’s this was the reason for the most deaths in
mental homes (4). In the article The Current State of Niacin in Cardiovascular Disease
Prevention it reminds the reader that patients with CVD or metabolic syndrome are not usually
deficient in Niacin itself. However, it provides knowledge that those patients with these issues
may need an excess amount to help vasodilation, increase HDL and lower TG (6). Niacin has a
lot of functions, not just the ones previously stated. Next we will be talking about the chief
functions Niacin and what it can do for the human body.
Chief Functions
Niacin contains a multitude of beneficial properties that so many Americans might not
even know about. Niacin is just one of the eight water-soluble B vitamins, which means that our
body does not store them. All of the B vitamins help the body to convert food to fuel to produce
energy. However, Niacin is a crucial cardio protective agent in our body. Its chief roles vary
from many biological processes such as: acting as a pharmacological agent, decreases plasma
cholesterol, increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, reduces triglyceride levels, produces
energy, synthesizes fatty acids, and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Niacin’s most important role in the body is maintaining an optimal cholesterol level. This
vitamin will decrease low-density lipoproteins, decrease triglycerides, and increase high-density
lipoproteins (HDL). Low-density lipoproteins are coined as the bad cholesterol along with
triglycerides in certain foods. High-density lipoproteins are the good cholesterol that is needed in
your diet. Some sources of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglycerides (TG) are fried
foods, sweets such as cakes and cookies, potato chips, and certain meats. When consuming
enough niacin, more reports are noticing the decrease in total cholesterol of patients and a
lessened risk of heart attacks and deaths.
This B vitamin can be a pharmacological agent in many disease states. Niacin has been
known to be used for clinical purposes, but it is hindered by harmless side effects. The major
side effect that most patients will experience is flushing. The term flushing is described as a
burning sensation in your chest or face and occurs when patients consume niacin in high doses
such as 50 mg or more. Niacin has also shown signs of helping individuals with joint mobility
complications. Niacin acts as an anti-inflammatory nutrient and will help patients with arthritis
symptoms.
Significant Sources and DRI
Niacin is found in a variety of foods that makes it easy to obtain in one’s diet. Some
sources of this B vitamin are found in nuts, dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, seeds,
legumes and enriched breads and cereals. The highest amounts of Niacin are found mostly in
animal products and grains. Only a small amount of niacin is found in milk, leafy green
vegetables, and coffee. The recommended dietary allowance of niacin is 14 mg per day for adult
women and 16 mg per day for adult men. It is very easy to over consume niacin because the
United States will reach more than two times their RDA. Niacin will be incorporated into any
diet a person chooses to follow because of its wide range of sources.
Niacin is also recommended for infants and small children from birth to adolescent. This
vitamin is appropriate at small amounts for infants at birth. A study has shown niacin’s effect on
infant formula to make sure babies are receiving this B vitamin at a very early age. The study
wanted to determine the amount of niacin in formulas to serve as a standard and how it compares
to other B vitamin complexes.
Toxicity
However, over-consuming niacin in high amounts can lead to complications that reach
far into toxic levels. Complications will arise if a person were to consume over 50 mg per day of
niacin. High doses of niacin are only supposed to be used for disease states when prescribed by a
doctor. Certain supplements of this vitamin can cause problems with a person’s liver and make
stomach ulcers. Many disease states will also have adverse affects when taking a niacin
supplement and should be advised not to. A B complex vitamin is usually safe because it
contains all of the B vitamins and will not cause another one to be deficient. There are also other
possible interactions with medications when taking niacin such as aspirin, blood pressure
medications, and antibiotics. Aspirin will help to reduce flushing symptoms before taking niacin.
Taking niacin as well as blood pressure medication will only make its effect stronger. Niacin
should never be taken at the same time with antibiotics because they will counter act one another
and will interfere with the absorption.