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Niacin (Vitamin B3) Chemical Structures Food Sources Niacin in the Body Stability Synthesis Home Page Niacin Crystals Copied without permission from Roche Product Information

Niacin Niacin (nicotinic acid and the amide derivative nicotinamide) is one of the water soluble B-vitamins. In the blood, brain, kidney and liver it is converted to the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), both of which are involved in the generation of energy in cells. Tryptophan is an amino acid which is a provitamin of niacin. Top Chemical Structures Fig.1 The Chemical Structure of Nicotinic Acid 3D Structure of Nicotinic Acid Fig.2 The Chemical Structure of Nicotinamide Fig.3 The Chemical Structure of Tryptophan Top Principal Sources in Food Both forms of niacin are widely occurring in nature. Nicotinic acid is the predominant form in plants and nicotinamide in animals. The major dietary sources of niacin are: Yeast extract Liver Meats Oily fish Nuts Legumes Other sources include: Green leafy vegetables Milk and milk products Important dietary sources of tryptophan are: Meat Milk Eggs Top Niacin in the Body Deficiency of niacin results in a disease called Pellagra, the symptoms of which include: Dermatosis Dementia Diarrhoea Nervous disorders which can lead to paralysis of the extremities Did You Know? An earlier name for niacin was PP factor (pellagra-preventative factor). Top Stability Nicotinic acid and nicotinamide are both stable to light, heat, air and alkali. Top Synthesis Niacin can be synthesised by the oxidation of 5-ethyl-2-methylpyridine. A method for producing nicotinamide via 3-methylpyridine uses the starting products acrolein and ammonia. Top

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