Niacin (B3)

Also known as nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, this vitamin has a number of functions in the body. It is important in food metabolism, has a role in the maintenance of the skin, is vital for the gastrointestinal track and is used in the nervous system. Niacin also functions as a catalyst in redox reactions in the body.

Niacin is used by the digestive and nervous system

Deficiency of this vitamin causes serious problems due to its many uses throughout the body, the disease formed is known as pellagra and was often associated with poor. Pellagra results in the three "D's" that is diarrhea, dermatitis and dementia, often resulting in death. The disease maybe easily reversed though by high  niacin doses.

Food sources with good levels of niacin are meats, fish, brewer's yeast milk, eggs and bread. Niacin sometimes is also used in high doses as a drug to combat high levels of cholesterol, but leads to complications due to its high concentration.

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