Niacin, or nicotinic acid, helps us metabolise carbohydrates. Chronic Niacin deprivation leads to pellagra, a disease characterized by skin lesions, gastrointestinal disturbance, and nervous symptoms.
Niacin is vital for proper activity of the nervous system, is important in fat synthesis and protein metabolism, and is essential for healthy skin, tongue, and digestive-system. Niacin assists the flow of blood to the hands, feet and head, improves circulation and reduces the cholesterol level in the blood.
Niacin is also available as inositol hexaniacinate). This is a high dose niacin supplement without the uncomfortable side effects of conventional niacin – red skin and uncomfortable flushing. Inositol hexaniacinate is absorbed intact and gradually hydrolysed enzymatically in the blood stream.
Niacinamide is the active amide form of nicotinic acid. The health benefits of Niacinamide are generally representative of those listed for B3 in general.
Clinical applications and deficiencies of niacin
- Nervous system: depression, emotional instability, fatigue, irritability, confusion, memory impairment.
- Gastrointestinal: Bad breath, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea,
- Skin: dermatitis, skin eruptions and inflammation, canker sores.
- Musculoskeletal: muscle weakness.
- Circulation: peripheral vascular insufficiency, and conditions relating to poor circulation.
Clinical applications for inositol hexaniaciate
- Circulation: Raynaud’s Syndrome, intermittent claudication. Peripheral vasodilation & cold hands/feet.
- Peripheral vascular diseases: conditions resulting from peripheral vascular insufficiency, including threatened amputation from gangrene, restless legs syndrome, stasis dermatitis, atherosclerosis-related migraines, and hypertension.
- Hyperlipidemia, high dose for cholesterol and triglycerides, significant lipid-lowering effects can be achieved with doses of 400 mg 3-4 times daily.
- Skin: lesions of scleroderma, acne, dermatitis herpetiformis, exfoliative glossitis, and psoriasis. Sclerodermal skin lesions improve significantly, IHN appeared to help four out of five patients with dermatitis It appears the dermatological problems most benefited by Niasafe are those related to vascular insufficiency.
Clinical Applications Of Niacinamide
- Anti-ageing: slows ageing on a cellular level. Potent antioxidant effect in the brain,
- Diabetes: Helps to prevent the onset of Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (protects beta cells of the Islets of Langerhans from destruction). Exerts blood sugar stability in DM 2 patients.
- Metabolism: inhibits the ability of alcohol to damage the liver.
- Musculoskeletal: an effective treatment for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.– Niacinamide helps to protect joint cartilage cells, improves Joint flexibility, reduces inflammation, and permits a reduction in NSAID dosage.
- Nervous system: helps to slow and prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Improves sleep, reduces aggressiveness, helps to treat autism.
- Respiratory: helps to reduce the symptoms of asthma.
