Niacin is one of the B family of vitamins. It is essential for energy metabolism and for the regulation and health of the immune, nervous and endocrine systems. If people become deficient in niacin either due to a poor diet or a medical condition, they can develop a potentially serious condition that is characterized, in part, by depression. Niacin supplementation can reverse the disorder and its symptoms, but you should only begin supplementing with niacin if you are under the direction and supervision of a doctor.
Niacin
Niacin -- also known as vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid -- is found in high concentrations in fish like tuna, swordfish and salmon; organ meats like beef kidney and liver; beets; niacin-fortified cereals; peanuts; and sunflower seeds. Since the body can synthesize niacin from the amino acid tryptophan, foods like dairy products, beef and poultry that are rich in tryptophan can also increase the amount of niacin available for use in your body. Niacin supplementation is used to increase HDL, or "good" cholesterol, levels and may decrease "bad" LDL cholesterol levels enough to help prevent atherosclerosis. The Mayo Clinic reports that some studies have indicated niacin may be helpful in treating Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and age-related macular degeneration, but more research and clinical trial data are needed.
Niacin Deficiency and Depression
According to the Food and Nutrition Board, adult men should consume 16 mg of niacin daily and women should consume at least 14 mg. For most people, this recommended daily intake is easy to reach without additional niacin supplementation. However, people suffering from poor diet, disorders like Hartnup's disease that significantly decrease tyrptophan absorption, or alcoholism may become niacin deficient and develop a condition known as pellagra. One of the main symptoms of pellagra is depression. Other characteristic symptoms include diarrhea, a bright red tongue, headaches, memory loss, fatigue, vomiting, mental confusion, canker sores, digestive system problems and the development of patches of scaly cracked skin. Death will eventually occur if pellagra is not treated.
Dosage
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of niacin supplementation as an effective way to treat the depression and other symptoms associated with pellagra. A typical treatment dosage can range from 50 mg to 1,000 mg of niacin administered throughout the day. If you believe you may suffer from a niacin deficiency, do not attempt to treat the condition on your own by self-supplementing with niacin. Niacin taken in high levels can cause a number of side effects, including skin flushing accompanied by a burning and tingling sensation, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, liver damage, stomach ulcers, sharp drops in blood pressure, heart palpitations and dizziness.
Considerations
While certain niacin preparations have been FDA-approved as pellagra treatments, other over-the-counter niacin supplements are not. These dietary supplements are not regulated for purity, effectiveness or safety. If you have a history of gout, heart disease, low blood pressure, diabetes, digestive ulcers, liver or kidney disease, gallbladder disorders or are pregnant or nursing, you should avoid niacin supplementation. Niacin can also interfere with the function of medications like blood thinners, diabetes drugs, antibiotics, clonodine, carbamazepine, allopurinol, nicotine patches and cholesterol-controlling drugs such as colestipol and cholestyramine.
