Niacinamide also known as nicotinamide, is a form of vitamin B3 that plays a crucial role in the body's energy metabolism and maintenance of healthy skin. It is used in both food and cosmetics for its many benefits. is a starch derived from vitamin B3. 

Vitamin B₃ (pyridine-3-formic acid) an organic vitamin, is also known as niacin, (a generic name that also includes vitamin PP, niacinamide, nicotinamide, nicotinic acid and derivatives) is one of the 8 water-soluble B-complex vitamins. 

It is found in :

• muscle tissue
• fish
• meat
• chickens
• peanuts
• yeasts
• and other  

Here are some of the main uses and benefits of Niacinamide .

Metabolic support. Niacinamide is critical for fat, carbohydrate and protein metabolism, contributing to energy production at the cellular level.

Skin. Applied topically, it helps improve the appearance of the skin by reducing redness, dark spots, and signs of aging. It also stimulates ceramide production, improving hydration and the skin barrier.

Deficiencies. Niacinamide supplementation can prevent and treat vitamin B3 deficiencies, which can lead to disorders such as pellagra, characterized by dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia.

Anti-inflammatory. Niacinamide has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, useful in treating skin conditions such as acne and eczema.

Brain. Studies indicate that Niacinamide may have beneficial effects on brain health, helping to protect against neurodegenerative diseases.

Skin cancer risk. Research suggests that Niacinamide may reduce the risk of some types of skin cancer due to its protective properties.

Niacinamide. Industrial process of chemical synthesis.

• Chemical Synthesis. The production of Niacinamide begins with the chemical synthesis starting from nicotinonitrile as a precursor. Through a series of chemical reactions, nicotinonitrile is converted into Niacinamide. These reactions may include hydrogenation or hydrolysis in the presence of specific catalysts.
• Purification. After synthesis, the crude Niacinamide is purified to remove impurities and by-products of the reaction. Purification can be achieved through techniques such as crystallization, distillation, or chromatography.
• Quality Control. The purified Niacinamide undergoes rigorous quality control checks to ensure it meets the purity and safety standards required for pharmaceutical, nutritional, and cosmetic use. These tests can include spectroscopic analyses, chromatographic analyses, and purity tests.
• Formulation. Depending on the end use, Niacinamide can be formulated into different preparations, such as powders, solutions, tablets, or capsules, or incorporated into cosmetic formulations.

Industrially it appears in the form of a white powder.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

In cosmetics it is used to soften the skin, treat acne. Its antimicrobial properties have protective, sebostatic and lightening effects on itching (1). It is usually well tolerated and is a safe product.

Skin conditioning agent - Mixed. This ingredient is responsible for modifying the condition of the skin when it is damaged or dry by reducing flaking and restoring elasticity.

Medical

About fifty years ago, Kaufman reported high doses of niacinamide to effectively treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Nowadays, after studies carried out on a significant number of cases, it is possible to confirm what Kaufman claimed, even though it cannot be assumed, at the moment, that Niacinamide can also be used for prevention (2)

The most relevant studies on this vitamin have been selected with a summary of the contents:

Vitamin B₃ studies

Molecular Formula    C₆H₅NO₂    C₅H₄NCOOH   HOOC₅H₄N 

Molecular Weight   123.111 g/mol

CAS   59-67-6

EC Number   200-441-0

UNII   2679MF687A

PubChem Substance ID 329823272

MDL number   MFCD00006391

Beilstein Registry Number   109591

Synonyms: 

• Nicotinic Acid
• niacin
• Pyridine-3-carboxylic acid
• Pellagrin
• 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid
• Akotin
• vitamin B3
• Daskil
• 3-Carboxypyridine
• Efacin
• Enduracin
• Pelonin
• Nicodelmine
• Linic
• Niconacid
• nicamin
• Pellagramin
• nicobid
• Direktan
• nicocap
• Niaspan
• nicolar
• Nicacid
• Bionic
• Nicangin
• Diacin
• Peviton                  

References__________________________________________________________________

(1) Wohlrab J, Kreft D Niacinamide - mechanisms of action and its topical use in dermatology.   Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(6):311-5. doi: 10.1159/000359974. 

(2) McCarty MF, Russell AL. Niacinamide therapy for osteoarthritis--does it inhibit nitric oxide synthase induction by interleukin 1 in chondrocytes?  Med Hypotheses. 1999 Oct;53(4):350-60.

Abstract. Fifty years ago, Kaufman reported that high-dose niacinamide was beneficial in osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis. A recent double-blind study confirms the efficacy of niacinamide in OA. It may be feasible to interpret this finding in the context of evidence that synovium-generated interleukin-1 (IL-1), by inducing nitric oxide (NO) synthase and thereby inhibiting chondrocyte synthesis of aggrecan and type II collagen, is crucial to the pathogenesis of OA. Niacinamide and other inhibitors of ADP-ribosylation have been shown to suppress cytokine-mediated induction of NO synthase in a number of types of cells; it is therefore reasonable to speculate that niacinamide will have a comparable effect in IL-1-exposed chondrocytes, blunting the anti-anabolic impact of IL-1. The chondroprotective antibiotic doxycycline may have a similar mechanism of action. Other nutrients reported to be useful in OA may likewise intervene in the activity or synthesis of IL-1. Supplemental glucosamine can be expected to stimulate synovial synthesis of hyaluronic acid; hyaluronic acid suppresses the anti-catabolic effect of IL-1 in chondrocyte cell cultures, and has documented therapeutic efficacy when injected intra-articularly. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), another proven therapy for OA, upregulates the proteoglycan synthesis of chondrocytes, perhaps because it functions physiologically as a signal of sulfur availability. IL-1 is likely to decrease SAM levels in chondrocytes; supplemental SAM may compensate for this deficit. Adequate selenium nutrition may down-regulate cytokine signaling, and ample intakes of fish oil can be expected to decrease synovial IL-1 production; these nutrients should receive further evaluation in OA. These considerations suggest that non-toxic nutritional regimens, by intervening at multiple points in the signal transduction pathways that promote the synthesis and mediate the activity of IL-1, may provide a substantially superior alternative to NSAIDs (merely palliative and often dangerously toxic) in the treatment and perhaps prevention of OA.

Jonas WB, Rapoza CP, Blair WF. The effect of niacinamide on osteoarthritis: a pilot study. Inflamm Res. 1996 Jul;45(7):330-4.

Abstract. Objective: To evaluate the effect of niacinamide, on selected parameters of osteoarthritis using a double-blind, placebo controlled study design..... Conclusion: This study indicates that niacinamide may have a role in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Niacinamide improved the global impact of osteoarthritis, improved joint flexibility, reduced inflammation, and allowed for reduction in standard anti-inflammatory medications when compared to placebo. More extensive evaluation of niacinamide in arthritis is warranted.