The Effects Of Niacinamide

Niacinamide, or nicotinamide, is part of the vitamin B3 complex, and is found naturally in yeast, meat, milk, eggs, green vegetables, fish and cereal grains. The body is able to make niacinamide from the essential amino acid tryptophan. Failure to obtain sufficient amounts of tryptophan in the diet results in a vitamin B3 deficiency. Niacinamide is an antioxidant that inhibits free radical formation. Like all B vitamins, niacinamide is water soluble and easily absorbed.

Delayed Onset of Type 1 Diabetes

Niacinamide has been shown to have a protective effect on the insulin-secreting beta cells of the human pancreas. Niacinamide has been used successfully to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes in young children. In studies where diabetes was already present, treatment with niacinamide caused regression in some of the patients, notes WellCorps International. Findings suggest that treatment is more likely to be effective when niacinamide is used in pre-adolescents with high risk for type 1 diabetes and children with pre-existing disease who had not yet developed significant insulin resistance.

Improvement of Osteoarthritis

According to WellCorps International, a double blind study has shown that high dose niacinamide causes increased range of motion and decreased pain in arthritic joints. The dosage given was 3,000 mg per day. Improvement was seen within 3 months. The treated group also had decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and decreased use of anti-inflammatory medications. Niacinamide's ability to improve range of motion in osteoarthritis is believed to be related to its anti-inflammatory action caused by inhibition of nitric oxide.

Cognitive Improvement

Niacinamide functions to maintain integrity of the central nervous system. Clinical B3 deficiency or pellagra is characterized by dementia, depression, diarrhea and skin disease. Niacinamide is approved by the FDA for the treatment of this disorder. Adequate treatment with niacinamide causes reversal of the dementia associated with B3 deficiency, notes WellCorps International.

According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, niacin is considered "possibly effective" for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. People who get 17 to 45 mg niacin per day have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease when compared with those taking less than 14 mg per day. This raises speculation as to whether or not defects in B3 metabolism play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Niacinamide has also been used to successfully treat acute and early onset schizophrenia. It has no significant effect upon chronic schizophrenia, notes WellCorps International.

Radiation Sensitivity

Niacinamide increases the efficacy of radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism. This has led to speculation that niacinamide might be used to increase efficiency of radiation treatments for cancer. As of 2010, research studies are being planned that will evaluate this potential, states WellCorps International.