What Does Vitamin B3 Do?

Vitamin B3 plays an important role in many body systems. Without adequate levels of vitamin B3, symptoms of deficiency, sometimes serious and even fatal, can develop.

Function

Vitamin B3 is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and lipids in the body and is required for the production of energy. A deficiency of vitamin B3 can cause a disease called pellagra, which underscores the importance of vitamin B3 in a variety of body tissues and organs. Pellagra includes a triad of symptoms--diarrhea, dermatitis (skin inflammation and lesions in light-exposed areas) and dementia (mental disturbances including loss of memory and emotional disorders). If not treated with supplemental vitamin B3, serious cases of pellagra can be fatal.

Types

There are basically two forms of vitamin B3--niacin (or nicotinic acid) and niacinamide (or nicotinamide). Niacin is the only form of vitamin B3 that has been shown to reduce "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides and increase "good" cholesterol. Niacin can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Niacinamide does not show these effects on the cardiovascular system but does provide the same benefits for energy production and metabolism and may be useful in the management of depression and anxiety.

Prevention/Solution

Vitamin B3 is often found in dietary supplements along with other B vitamins. Since stress, poor diet and even exercise can quickly deplete levels of B vitamins in the body, take a B-complex supplement daily. Make sure that the supplement you are taking provides at least 15 mg of vitamin B3 in the niacinamide (or nicotinamide) form to avoid skin flushing and adverse effects associated with the niacin form. If you are seeking the cardiovascular benefits of the niacin form of vitamin B3, speak with your doctor about the dose that is appropriate for you.

Considerations

Vitamin B3 taken in a niacin (or nicotinic acid) form can cause flushing or reddening of the skin. This "niacin flush" can be quite prominent, but it is temporary and will disappear when the dose of niacin is reduced. Unfortunately, niacin (or nicotinic acid) is the only form of vitamin B3 that can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Warning

Long-term use of high doses of the niacin form of vitamin B3 can cause serious side effects including liver damage. Niacin can also increase blood sugar levels. If you are living with or have an increased risk of developing diabetes, consult your doctor before taking this form of B3. You should never take any form of vitamin B3 in high doses (more than 25 mg daily niacin or more than 50 mg daily niacinamide) for long periods of time unless you are under a doctor's supervision.
Vitamin B3 can also interact with various prescription medications including statin drugs for cholesterol reduction, aspirin and blood thinners. Speak with your doctor before starting any new dietary supplements if you are taking any prescription medication or if you are being monitored for any health condition.