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  

Industrially it appears in the form of a white powder.

What it is used for and where

Medical

It is important for the conversion of proteins, carbohydrates and fats into energy. 

It can reduce harmful LDL-cholesterol (which thickens and clogs the arteries), improve HDL-cholesterol values and thus reduce the risks for the cardiovascular system (1).

It also has positive indications for diabetes mellitus by bringing glycaemic values back to normal (2).

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 (3).

Food

Its deficiency can develop pellagra-like symptoms and is linked to a state of malnutrition.

It is used in dairy products, in pasta making and in the production of maize flour.

Animal feed

Feed additive, which can improve milk production, poultry and meat quality.

Cosmetics

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.

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) Landray MJ, Haynes R, Armitage J. Niacin for reduction of cardiovascular risk.   N Engl J Med. 2014 Nov 13;371(20):1943-4. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1411240.

Niacin for reduction of cardiovascular risk.
Mayer L.
N Engl J Med. 2014 Nov 13;371(20):1943. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1411240#SA6.

Niacin for reduction of cardiovascular risk.
Santos-Gallego CG, Badimon J.
N Engl J Med. 2014 Nov 13;371(20):1943. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1411240#SA5.

Niacin for reduction of cardiovascular risk.
van den Oever IA, Nurmohamed MT, Lems WF.
N Engl J Med. 2014 Nov 13;371(20):1942. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1411240#SA4.

(2) Ding Y, Li Y, Wen A. Effect of niacin on lipids and glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials.  Clin Nutr. 2014 Sep 28. pii: S0261-5614(14)00247-7. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2014.09.019. 

(3) 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.

Wu L, Parhofer KG.  Diabetic dyslipidemia.  Metabolism. 2014 Aug 29. pii: S0026-0495(14)00258-3. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2014.08.010.