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Niacin (vitamin B3), also known as nicotinic acid, is an essential water-soluble vitamin. Niacin occurs naturally in food such as meat, poultry, and fish. Our liver can make niacin from the amino acid tryptophan. Riboflavin, vitamin B6 and iron are required to catalyze some reactions, and one mg of niacin is formed from 60 mg of tryptophan. Alternate nameNiacinYear of Discovery1937Discovered byConrad Elvehjem The term nicotinic acid should not be confused with nicotine. Nicotinic acid is a vitamin, but nicotine is a potent poison from tobacco. Otto Warburg (Nobel Prize, 1931) elucidated the structure of NAD+, and Alexander Todd (Nobel prize, 1957) demonstrated its function. Chemistry Niacin is pyridine-3-carboxylic acid (pyridine ring with a substituted carboxylic acid group). Niacinamide is the acid amide (pyridine ring with a substituted amide group). Niacinamide is the active form of vitamin present in tissues. The main coenzyme forms of niacin are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or NAD and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate or NADP. Dietary Sources Niacin is present in enriched and whole grains and high-protein foods like meat, milk, and eggs. You can choose cereals (whole grains), white bread, and pasta fortified with niacin as a rich source. The richest natural sources of niacin are; Dried yeast Liver Peanut and peanut butter Whole cereals Legumes Mushroom Potatoes Meat Poultry Fish About half of the requirement of niacin is met by the conversion of tryptophan to niacin. About 60 mg of tryptophan will yield 1 mg of niacin. Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) The niacin requirement is expressed in niacin equivalents (NEs), allowing some conversion of the amino acid tryptophan to niacin. The RDA of niacin for adults is 16 mg/day of NEs for men and 14 mg/day of NEs (niacin equivalents) for women. The tolerable upper intake level for niacin for adults is 35mg/day. [2] Life Stage GroupNiacinInfants 0-6 months2 mg/day of NEs7-12 months 4 mg/day of NEsChildren 1-3 years6 mg/day of NEs4-8 years8 mg/day of NEsMales 9-13 years12 mg/day of NEs14-18 years16 mg/day of NEs>19 years16 mg/day of NEsFemales 9-13 years12 mg/day of NEs14-18 years14 mg/day of NEs>19 years14 mg/day of NEsPregnant girl or women 18 mg/day of NEsLactating mother 17 mg/day of NEsSource: Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes (1997, 1998, 2000) [1] Absorption Niacin is absorbed in the small intestine and is transported freely in the blood or the forms of nicotinic acid or nicotinamide. Niacin is excreted in urine as 1-methyl nicotinamide or NAM. Urinary 1-methyl nicotinamide is the most reliable and sensitive measure of niacin status. Functions Niacin is essential for healthy skin, blood cells, the brain, and the nervous system. Niacin helps to convert food into energy. Niacin functions as a component of the metabolically essential coenzymes NAD and NADP. These coenzymes act as hydride ion acceptors or donors in biological redox reactions. They also serve as coenzymes for dehydrogenases. Niacin is used to lower serum cholesterol. Nicotinic acid inhibits the flux of free fatty acids from adipose tissue, reducing the acetyl CoA pool, which lowers the serum cholesterol level. In high doses, niacin reduces Lipoprotein(a) levels. Deficiency The niacin deficiency led to a classical clinical condition called "pellagra." Pellagra was common in the United States and Europe in populations dependent upon corn-based diets. Pellagra has disappeared from developed countries except for cases of chronic alcoholism. It persists in parts of India, China, and Africa. Institute of Medicine (US) Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes: A Risk Assessment Model for Establishing Upper Intake Levels for Nutrients. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1998. Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45188/ Institute of Medicine (US) Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes and its Panel on Folate, Other B Vitamins, and Choline. Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. National Academies Press (US); Washington (DC): 1998. [PubMed]

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