Niacin(vitamin B3) for skin

 

Introduction:

Niacin is also known as vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid. It is a water soluble vitamin, member of the B-complex vitamins family. It is not stored in the body as it is water soluble and is carried through blood stream. Excess of it is not stored and is rapidly excreted through urine. It usually exists in the form of a co-enzyme that is NAD⁺ and participates in the oxidative reaction especially in the oxidation of food components for the purpose of energy. It has many functions to do in our body e.g keeping our skin, digestive system and nervous system healthy. Niacin also comes in the form of Niacinamide and inositol-hex nicotinate. Niacin can harm if consumed in excess. This article will discuss the sources, dosage, role and deficiency issues of the vitamin B3.

Sources:

The rich sources of the niacin include:

• Liver
• Lean meat
• Poultry especially chicken breast
• Fish
• Leafy vegetables
• Groundnuts
• Whole grain cereal
• Yeast
• Peanuts
• Lentils
• Vitamin B3 or niacin is also prepare in our body through tryptophan amino acid that is converter into niacin through the action of riboflavin FAD⁺².

Dosage:

The daily recommended dose of the niacin is different for different conditions and age phases along with gender. The RDA for different age phases and conditions is given below:

• For infants (0 to 12 months)ranges from 2 mg/day to 4 mg/day
• For children from the age of 1 year to 13 year, the RDA of niacin ranges from 6 mg per day to 12 mg/day
• For men (above 14 years) is 16 mg per day
• For women (above 14 years) is 14 mg per day
• For pregnant women the RDA is 18 mg/day
• Breastfeeding women need 17 mg/day

Role of Niacin in human body:

Niacin has many roles in our body functioning. These may include:

• Vitamin B3 plays its major role in the oxidation and breakdown of the carbohydrates, proteins and lipids for the purpose of energy. It also plays its role in the glands and liver function.
• Niacin has also been found to play its role in the hormone production through the adrenal glands. It also helps to remove harmful chemicals from the liver.
• It is also use to improve many pathetic conditions e.g it is use to treat migraine headaches, diarrhea, cholera, dizziness and circulation issues.
• It is also use to repair the damage cause by brain strokes. It was seen that niacin when use in stroke patients, it help to form new blood vessels in the brain thus, contributing toward the stroke treatment.
• It has also been fount to reduce the skin cancer risks in people having the history of skin cancer.
• It is also useful for skin health as when the nicotinamide gel is use on the skin, it helps to reduce the acne problems.
• It is also helpful in maintaining the sexual health especially in men and improves the ability of a person to maintain an erection of penis. Those men who have moderate to severe erectile dysfunction can benefit from it.
• Due to the anti-inflammatory effect of niacin, it can also help to improve or cure the conditions of inflammatory bowel disease.

Niacin and cholesterol:

Niacin also helps to lower the LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) in blood. On the other hand, Niacin can increase the HDL (good cholesterol) by 30%. It can lower the triglycerides by 20-50%.

High dose issues:

Niacin if consumed in excess can cause serious problems. That may include:

• Niacin Flush:

It is a condition in which there is itchiness, redness, allergy and a feeling of warmth under the skin. The reaction can be severe if the doses are extremely high in just one shot.

• It can also cause the severe liver damage.
• It can also cause other side-effects such as:
• Stomach upset, nausea and vomiting usually occur when people take slow release nicotinic-acid
• Intestinal gas
• Drowsiness
• Pain in the mouth
• Muscle breakdown

Deficiency issues:

Its deficiency can cause the following problems:

Pellagra:

Its deficiency results in pellagra. Its symptoms include

• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Dermatitis (discoloration of skin)
• Dementia (mental disorder)

 Deficiency of niacin may be associate with protein shortage.

Other issues:

Other deficiency issues include:

• Memory loss and mental convulsions
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Skin problems

Conclusion:

Niacin is an important vitamin whose deficiency and over-consumption both can cause problems. It should be obtain primarily through diet that is considerer the healthy source of it rather than supplements.