Vitamin B3 | Nicotinic acid

Vitamin B3 | Nicotinic acid

Properties: Vitamin B3 is involved in many biochemical reactions that take place in the human body. In addition, it has a great impact on the functioning of the nervous system. Most likely this is the reason why this vitamin is believed to be the one of the most important among the B group vitamins. Of course, it doesn’t mean that we don’t need to pay attention to other vitamins. All the vitamins belonging to this group, in fact, are of great importance for our body but each of them exhibits different properties.

Speaking of the properties of vitamin B3, popularly known as niacin, let’s start with the fact that it is a great support for our mood and that it increases resistance to stress. In the brain, it stimulates the production of the substances that bring a positive attitude. What is more, it makes it easier to keep the inner balance and to “mute” unnecessary emotions. That way, it ensures mental comfort and, in addition, it helps to stabilize emotional reactions.

Thanks to vitamin B3 the nervous system becomes more efficient. This vitamin affects the process of neurogenesis – the formation of new nerve cells. It also encourages formation of new connections between neurons. In sum, the effect is a better and more effective functioning of the brain. Due to the increased number of neural connections, niacin contributes to the improvement of memory and concentration. What is more, it facilitates the learning process. It also allows the faster regeneration of neurons. That is extremely important if we want to ensure that our brain will be working efficiently as long as possible. 

Beyond the nervous system, vitamin B3 helps to regulate the functioning of the circulatory system and the metabolism of fat. That is why it works very well as the protection against diseases related to the cardiovascular system. We should take into account the fact that it stimulates the production of antioxidants. That way, it helps to remove harmful substances out of the body. It is therefore the vitamin that combines the beneficial impact on emotions and overall condition of the nervous system with the ability to ensure that the metabolism in the cells of our body occurs correctly. When it comes to the sources of this vitamin, we can find it in large quantities in food. But with supplementation we are more likely to control how much of this vitamin we provide to our body and we have guarantees that we receive a supplement with a high content of niacin.

Occurrence: Human body can produce vitamin B3 on its own – from tryptophan. However, the production of just one molecule of this vitamin requires the presence of 60 molecules of tryptophan. For this reason niacin is usually externally supplied with food. A good sources of this vitamin are: meat, fish, seafood, asparagus, pepper, potatoes, leguminous plants, sunflower seed, peanuts and whole grain products.

Biochemistry: The name “vitamin B3” refers to two chemical compounds: nicotinic acid (niacin) and nicotinamide (also called niacinamide). Their molecules are composed of a pyrimidine ring linked with a carboxyl group (for nicotinic acid) or carboxamide group (for nicotinamide) in the meta position. These two compounds are in the solid form and are soluble in water under normal conditions. In the human body they are converted into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+/NADH) that is a cofactor of numerous enzymes catalyzing essential chemical reactions.

Fun fact: In 2001, scientists from Arizona State University in Tempe, USA confirmed that vitamin B3 was present in a meteorite “Tagish Lake”. Since then, niacin has been found in a few more meteorites. So, we can probably say that our planet has been taking supplements with vitamin B3 for quite a long time.