|
|
|
|
|
What is Vitamin B3? |
 |
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid or vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin which plays an essential role in energy metabolism in the living cell and DNA repair.
Other functions of niacin include removing toxic chemicals from the body, and assisting in the production of steroid hormones made by the adrenal gland, such as sex hormones and stress-related hormones.
Niacin informationNiacin was first discovered from the oxidation of nicotine to form nicotinic acid. When the properties of nicotinic acid were discovered, it was given a name that would dissociate it from nicotine, in order to avoid the perception that vitamins or niacin-rich food contain nicotine. The resulting name 'niacin' was derived from nicotinic acid + vitamin.
Niacin is also referred to as Vitamin B3 because it was the third of the B vitamins to be discovered. It has historically been referred to as "vitamin PP", a name derived from the term "pellagra-preventing factor", because the disease pellagra is due to a deficiency of niacin in the diet.
Vitamin B3The recommended daily allowance of niacin is 2-12 mg a day for children, 14 mg a day for women, 16 mg a day for men, and 18 mg a day for pregnant or breast-feeding women.
Niacin and MarijuanaNiacin is sometimes consumed in large quantities by people who wish tofool drug screening tests, particularly for lipid soluble drugs such asmarijuana. It is believed to "promote metabolism" of the drug and causeit to be "flushed out". However, scientific studies have shown it doesnot affect drug screenings and can pose a risk of overdose, causingarrhythmias, metabolic acidosis, hyperglycemia, and other seriousproblems (see below).
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
