Niacin cannot be manufactured by humans and is obtained exclusively from the diet. Niacin is a precursor of NAD+ and NADP, which are required for a very large number of enzymes in essentially all metabolic pathways, including central roles in energy metabolism. Deficiency is rare, and generally found in individuals with highly-restricted diets and/or substantial gastrointestinal disease. Symptoms can include tiredness, nausea, skin and mouth lesions, anemia, diarrhea, headaches, and mental confusion. However, NAD+ levels decrease with aging, and this is thought to be a key factor in age-related changes. Nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form that can easily be converted into NAD+, is emerging as a leading form of vitamin B3 “due to its bioavailability, safety, and strong ability to raise NAD+ content compared to other precursors.” Some sources suggest than NR is a superior form of vitamin B3 for the maintenance of heart and brain health, as well as to prolong longevity. The niacinamide and NR forms of niacin do not cause flushing, and side effects are rare at the doses used in ActivNeeds.
Niacin in the form of both niacinamide and niacinamide riboside (NR) are added in order to provide a wide basis of nutrition, especially given its important role in boosting NAD+ levels and energy metabolism. Side effects are unexpected.
Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is one of the eight B-complex vitamins. Niacin cannot be manufactured by humans and is thus a true vitamin, obtained exclusively from the diet.
Niacin is a precursor of the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), which are required for a very large number of enzymes in essentially all metabolic pathways, including central roles in energy metabolism.
Deficiency is rare, and generally found in individuals with highly-restricted diets and/or substantial gastrointestinal disease. Symptoms can include tiredness, nausea, skin and mouth lesions, anemia, diarrhea, headaches, and mental confusion.
Increasing evidence indicates that decreased NAD+ levels contribute to the development of age-associated changes. Reduction in NAD+ is caused by both lowered rates of biosynthesis and increased use of NAD+ [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7352172].
Niacin is important for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system and metabolism. In addition, niacin helps with brain function, healthy skin formation, and the maintenance of normal blood sugar. NR is increasingly used to slow age-related changes in the heart and brain, as well as to increase longevity.
NAD+ can be synthesized from tryptophan (in multiple steps), which itself cannot be made by human and comes from the diet, or from nicotinamide (in 3 steps). Another (2 or 3 step) pathway to make NAD starts with nicotinamide riboside (NR), with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN, itself often recommended as a supplement) as an intermediate. Some sources have recommended NR as a superior source of NAD+ for the maintenance of heart and brain health. In addition, NR, but not nicotinamide, increased longevity in yeast, most likely via increased sirtuin function, the same pathway believed to enhance longevity via caloric restriction [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7352172].
Niacin is water-soluble vitamin and thus considered to be generally non-toxic. Niacin in the form of nicotinic acid is well known for causing flushing, but this is harmless. The niacinamide (also known as nicotinamide) and NR forms of niacin present in ActivNeeds do not cause flushing, but also are not effective in lowering cholesterol levels. Side effects are unexpected at the doses used in ActivNeeds.
Laboratory testing can reveal the presence of a deficiency of vitamin B3, but is generally not likely to have clinically utility.
Niacin, in the form of niacinamide and niacinamide riboside (NR), are added to ActivNeeds in order to provide a wide basis of nutrition, especially given the important role of niacin/niacinamide in energy metabolism. In particular, NR is emerging as a leading form of vitamin B3 “due to its bioavailability, safety, and strong ability to raise NAD+ content compared to other precursors.” Side effects are unexpected with the forms and doses used in ActivNeeds.
Formulations
