Does Fish Oil Contain Niacin?

Niacin is a type of B-vitamin that assists digestive enzymes in metabolizing carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It is found is a variety of foods, including whole-grain cereal and bread, lentils, beans and fish. Some fish oils not only contain a high amount of niacin, but also omega-3 fatty acids that help fight diseases and prevent mental disorders, according to dietitian Matthew Kadey, contributing writer for PTontheNet.

Function

Your body gets most of its energy from oxidation-reduction, or redox, reactions, which is the transfer of electrons from one molecule or atom to another, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. These reactions occur in carbohydrate and fat metabolism in your cells. Over 200 digestive enzymes need niacin, in the forms nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, or NADP. NAD is used to accept or donate electrons for redox reactions. NADP is used for synthesizing cholesterol and fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil provide structure for your cell membranes, reduce inflammation and increase the level of high-density lipoprotein that carries cholesterol away from your blood vessels and into your liver.

Benefits

Eating fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids and niacin lowers your risks for heart disease and some types of cancer, according the Linus Pauling Institute. Although the drug form of niacin, nicotinic acid, can reduce triglycerides by 26 percent and blood cholesterol by 10 percent, some people develop side effects, such as flushing and itching. Therefore, the best way to obtain both nutrients would be from natural sources.

Recommended Intake

Dietitian Ellen Coleman, author of "Ultimate Sports Nutrition," recommends that you take between 14 to 16 milligrams, or mg, of niacin a day from foods. Do not take more than 35 mg a day.

Kadey recommends that you should eat a minimum of 500 mg of omega-3 fatty acids a day from fish oils to minimize the risk of diseases.

Sources

The best sources of niacin from fish include halibut, salmon, sardines and tuna, according to the World's Healthiest Foods website. Four oz. of salmon contain 11.3 mg of niacin, and halibut has 8 mg in the same serving size.

Warning

Niacin deficiency can cause pellagra, a disease that causes skin infections, muscle weakness, appetite loss and digestive disorders, according to World's Healthiest Foods. Cook fish thoroughly to kill off any parasites, such as flukes, that may harbor inside the flesh in the form of cysts.