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Vitamin

Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3, or niacin, is an essential water-soluble vitamin that includes nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. The body can also make it from tryptophan.

Also listed as Niacin, B3

Essential HealthCardiovascularLongevityHair & SkinStress & Mood

Nicotinic acid or nicotinamide?

The form matters: high doses of nicotinic acid more often cause flushing, itching, digestive problems and liver damage than nicotinamide. A label saying only “B3” leaves an important comparison unfinished. 1

Does the skin trial apply to every B3 product?

The skin-cancer trial used oral nicotinamide. It cannot establish equivalent prevention with nicotinic acid or a skincare cream. 2

Sources