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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

Better cholesterol numbers, but fewer heart attacks?

Nicotinic acid can lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and raise HDL. Yet a Cochrane review of 23 trials with 39,195 participants found no reduction in deaths or cardiovascular events. The median dose was 2 g daily, and many participants were already taking statins. Treatment discontinuation because of side effects was more common with niacin. 1

Cholesterol balanceMixed

Lipid improvements did not translate into fewer cardiovascular events. 1

A specific use in people with repeated skin cancers

In 386 people with at least two nonmelanoma skin cancers in the preceding five years, 500 mg nicotinamide twice daily reduced the rate of new cancers by 23% over 12 months versus placebo. Benefit was not evident after treatment stopped. This finding concerns a high-risk group and a particular form, not routine prevention for everyone. 2

What about mental energy and aging?

A review describes niacin-dependent energy metabolism and DNA maintenance, while noting a shortage of controlled trials on niacin and brain function. The biological rationale remains worth investigating; it does not settle whether extra B3 improves everyday mental energy. 3

Effects by health goal

Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.

Longevity1 effect

Cellular health & agingLongevityModerateBNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

Hair & Skin1 effect

Skin textureHair & SkinSmallBNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

Stress & Mood1 effect

Mood SupportStress & MoodSmallCNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

Energy1 effect

Energy CrashesEnergySmallCNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

Cognition1 effect

Mental EnergyCognitionSmallCNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

All studies

6 publications are linked to Vitamin B3, newest first.

B Vitamins and Their Role in Immune Regulation and Cancer2020A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of B Vitamin Supplementation on Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, and Stress: Effects on Healthy and ‘At-Risk’ Individuals2019B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy—A Review2016Effect of Niacin Therapy on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease2010Dietary niacin intake and risk of dyslipidemia: A pooled analysis of three prospective cohort studiesNiacin Therapy, HDL Cholesterol, and Cardiovascular Disease: Is the HDL Hypothesis Defunct?

Sources