9480. Vitamin B3 (nicotinamide)

Vitamin B3 (niacin, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, vitamin P, vitamin PP) is involved in enzymatic reactions, metabolism and energy production. It is prescribed in pharmacological doses to reduce the level of LDL-CL (‘bad’ cholesterol), triglycerides and increase the level of HDL-CL (‘good’ cholesterol).

Sources:

• meat (poultry, beef, pork), fish;
• some types of nuts, legumes and cereals;
• fortified foods such as bread and cereals.

Deficiency is observed with unbalanced and malnutrition, alcoholism, anorexia, inflammatory bowel disease, cirrhosis of the liver; carcinoid syndrome, a condition in which slow-growing tumors develop in the digestive tract (a decrease in niacin levels is associated with increased consumption of tryptophan for the synthesis of serotonin).

Severe nicotinamide deficiency leads to the development of pellagra, the classic symptoms of which are dermatitis (rough skin that turns red or brown in the sun), bright red tongue, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, depression, headaches, extreme fatigue, aggressiveness, paranoid disturbances, suicidal behavior, hallucinations, apathy, memory loss.

Toxicity: Pharmacological doses can cause reddening of the skin, headaches, lowering blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels, blurred vision, edema of the optic nerve head, fatty degeneration of the liver.

• if there are symptoms that may indicate a deficiency of nicotinamide (dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, glossitis);
• the person is at risk of vitamin B3 deficiency;
• in conditions associated with malabsorption, with Hartnup's syndrome.

• Venous blood

In order to exclude factors that may affect the test results, we recommend to follow the preparation rules: