What Price, Vitamin B3?
What Price, Vitamin B3?
Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, niacinamide, nicotinic acid is needed
by the human body for cell respiration. Vitamin B3 also facilitates the
release of energy and the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins. Like Vitamin B2, this vitamin also promotes good blood
circulation and keeps the skin healthy skin.
Vitamin B3 even treats schizophrenia as well as other mental illnesses.
It is not only medically administered to lower one’s blood cholesterol
levels, it has also been used to clear the body of organic poisons, such
as insecticides. Take the vitamin as a daily supplement to see how it
improves your mental alertness!
Great sources of Vitamin B3 are liver, lean meat, poultry, fish, rabbit,
nuts, peanut yeast, cereals, legumes, asparagus, seeds, milk, green
leafy vegetables, and fish. A cup of coffee provides approximately 3
milligrams of the vitamin.
Vitamin B3 Deficiency
The classic consequence of Vitamin B deficiency is pellagra, a disease
characterized by scaly skin, diarrhea, and inflamed mucous membranes.
Known symptoms of Vitamin B3 deficiency are canker sores,
depression, dizziness, fatigue, halitosis, headaches, indigestion,
insomnia, limb pains, appetite loss, low blood sugar, and general
sluggishness.
Vitamin B3 Dosage
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 18 mg (male) and 13 mg
(female) per day with 100 mg as the normal prescribed supplementation.
Unlike Vitamin B1 and B2, which are relatively safe to overtake, Vitamin
B3 overdose may induce hyperuricemia, as well as hepatic
abnormalities. Luckily, these effects can reversed by discontinuing
intake.
Vitamin B3 is best to take with the rest of the B complex vitamins and
with Vitamin C. Warning: Those with diabetes, glaucoma, any liver
disease, or peptic ulcers should be wary of taking supplementation of
this vitamin. And take note, Vitamin B3 is readily lost when food sources
are cooked in water.