Diabetes is a chronic disorder that affects all the organ systems in your body. Diabetes causes high levels of glucose to circulate in your bloodstream because your pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin, or the insulin produced by your pancreas isn't effective. When glucose can't get into your cells, your blood glucose levels rise, leading to a host of health problems. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B-3, which performs a crucial part in breaking down carbohydrates into glucose during digestion. High doses of prescription-strength niacinamide may be beneficial in treatment of Type 1 diabetes, but take it only under the direct supervision of your physician; there are safety concerns associated with its use.
Type 1 Diabetes
Diabetes is a group of related metabolic disorders resulting from your body's inability to use glucose properly. Glucose, derived from the breakdown of carbohydrates and other nutrients, provides the energy your cells need to function properly. Glucose requires the aid of insulin, an enzyme produced by your pancreas, to be transported into your cells and used for energy. Type 1 diabetes typically becomes apparent in childhood, and occurs when your pancreas doesn't manufacture enough insulin, possibly as the result of an autoimmune reaction causing antibodies to recognize the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas as foreign.
Niacinamide Effects
Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a form of niacin, or vitamin B-3, produced after your body uses all the niacin it needs from the foods in your diet. Niacinamide is required for many types of enzymatic reactions in your body, including conversion of starches, sugars and other nutrients into glucose for your cells to use as energy. Although niacinamide is used to treat pellagra, a niacin deficiency, it should never be used as a dietary supplement, because niacinamide has different pharmacological actions than niacin. Large doses of niacinamide may be effective in improving function of the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas, and are used to treat Type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes Treatment with Niacinamide
High doses of niacinamide may help prevent the death of the insulin-producing beta cells in your pancreas, thus improving their ability to function. Niacinamide may also reduce the amount of organ and blood vessel damage cause by high blood sugar levels. If you are an early-stage Type 1 diabetic, niacinamide may help lengthen the amount of time between your doses of insulin; it may also protect healthy children at high risk of developing Type 1 diabetes from the disease. Consult your doctor before taking high doses of niacinamide, because the clinical study results are contradictory, and there are some safety concerns when taking high doses.
Niacinamide Safety Concerns
The niacinamide dose for Type 1 adult diabetics is 2 grams to 3 grams daily, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Niacinamide doesn't cause the flushing reaction caused by niacin. Large doses of niacinamide can elevate your liver enzymes and damage your liver, but if therapy is stopped soon enough, the damage is usually reversible. MedlinePlus says doses higher than 3 grams per day can produce stomach ulcers, irregular heartbeat, gout, loss of vision and high blood glucose levels. Consult your physician about the correct dose of niacinamide for you.
References
- Univerity of Maryland Medical Center: Diabetes; Steven D. Ehrlich; December 2009
- MedlinePlus: Niacin and Niacinamide
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin B-3; Steven D. Ehrlich; June 2009
- Great Vista Chemicals: Nicotinamide - Vitamin B-3
- University of Michigan Health System: Vitamin B-3
- Vitamin Research Products; "Another Look at Clinical Uses for Niacinamide"; Daniel J. Bourassa
- "Diabetalogia"; Safety of High-Dose Nicotinamide: A Review; M. Knip, et al.; November 2000
