Vitamins are substances you need in small amounts in your diet to keep your body functioning properly. Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, can be found in many foods, including brewer's yeast, beets, fish, peanuts and sunflower seeds. This vitamin can also be obtained as a supplement used to prevent a niacin deficiency or as a treatment for some health problems.
Pellagra
Niacin supplements can be used to prevent pellagra, a condition caused by a vitamin B3 deficiency. Pellagra causes mental confusion and delusions. Patients with this problem might also develop diarrhea, scaly skin lesions and inflammation of mucous membranes. The body can also replace its niacin stores by converting the amino acid tryptophan into niacin, so pellagra might also be due to a lack of tryptophan in the body.
Effects on Cholesterol
In addition to its role in preventing pellagra, one of the most common uses for niacin is in altering cholesterol levels. Niacin is one of the most effective medicines for increasing HDL cholesterol, also known as the good cholesterol. It also reduces "bad" LDL cholesterol and can reduce triglycerides, another type of blood fat. Overall, this helps reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, a condition that can cause the arteries to clog easily.
Cancer Prevention
Niacin might also have some ability to prevent certain forms of cancer. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, niacin is needed to make some of the molecules that help the body repair DNA. In theory, increasing your niacin intake could help your body repair genetic mutations that cause cancer. People who consume more niacin might be less likely to get cancer of the esophagus, pharynx and mouth.
Side Effects
Although niacin is needed for the body to work properly, vitamin B3 supplements can have some adverse effects. Vitamin B3 can cause expansion of the blood vessels, resulting in flushing that typically affects the face and neck. Other side effects include nausea, diarrhea, an itchy feeling, muscle pain, sweating and mild dizziness. Niacin also can damage the liver, resulting in abnormally dark urine and yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin.
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