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What Does Vitamin B3 Do

Helps Manage Persistent Acne

The Lowdown on Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) – What is Niacinamide? Does Niacinamide fix acne?

Expanding on its skin-healing properties, both topical and oral nicotinamide may help treat acne as welllikely due to its anti-inflammatory properties. In a recent review, researchers found that six out of eight studies using topical nicotinamide led to a significant reduction in acne or at least performed as well as more mainstream acne creams. And, two of the studies using an oral form of this vitamin led to a significant reduction in acne. Some researchers believe this form of vitamin B3 may be an effective way to treat severe acne without antibiotics.

More studies are needed to confirm appropriate dosing of nicotinamide for acne. If you’re interested in taking it orally to manage skin conditions, talk to a dermatologist first to make sure it’s the best possible optionnot everyone’s fully on board yet. Some over-the-counter facial cleansers and creams containing nicotinamide containing lower doses than what has been used in studies may be a safe option to experiment with, just watch out for potential side effects such as skin irritation.

What Are The Risks Of Taking Niacin

  • Side effects. Niacin can cause flushing, especially when you first begin taking it. Your health care provider will probably suggest increasing the dose slowly to reduce this problem. They might also offer a time-release prescription formulation to control flushing. Niacin can cause upset stomach and diarrhea. However, all of these side effects tend to fade over time.
  • Risks. Niacin does have risks. It can cause liver problems, stomach ulcers, changes to glucose levels, muscle damage, low blood pressure, heart rhythm changes, and other issues. People with any health condition including liver or kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or cardiovascular problems need to talk to a doctor before using niacin supplements. Do not treat high cholesterol on your own with over-the-counter niacin supplements.
  • Interactions. If you take any medicines or supplements regularly, talk to your doctor before you start using niacin supplements. They could interact with medicines like diabetes drugs, blood thinners, anticonvulsants, blood pressure medicines, thyroid hormones, and antibiotics as well as supplements like ginkgo biloba and some antioxidants. Alcohol might increase the risk of liver problems. Though niacin is often used along with statins for high cholesterol, this combination may increase the risk for side effects. Get advice from your healthcare provider.

People with uncontrolled gout should also not take niacin supplements.

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How Much Do You Need

The Recommended Daily Allowance for niacin depends on your age and gender. For ages 7 months and older, it is expressed as mg niacin equivalents . One NE is equal to 1 mg of niacin or 60 mg of tryptophan (

Summary

The recommended amount of niacin depends on your age and gender. Men need 16 mg NE per day, while women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding need 14 mg NE per day.

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Why Is Vitamin B3 Necessary For Your Body

Your body automatically converts the niacin you consume into this nutrients metabolically active form, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide . Your body uses NAD to perform over 400 enzymatic functions, which makes vitamin B3 the most bioactive vitamin by sheer numbers. One example of a function of NAD is the conversion of potential energy in macronutrients into adenosine, which is your bodys main carrier of energy.

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Symptoms Of Vitamin B3 Deficiency

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Pellagra and Brain Fog

Severe niacin deficiency causes pellagra, which is characterised by severe mental disturbance. Even minor vitamin B3 deficiency can cause brain fog, memory issues, and difficulty concentrating. Deficiency in this nutrient can also cause depression.

Sunlight-Induced Skin Rash

Since vitamin B3 is essential for UV protection, deficiency in this nutrient can cause a thick, scaly rash on any part of your body that is exposed to sunlight.

Swollen Mouth and Tongue Discolouration

Severe vitamin B3 deficiency can result in swelling in your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth. Deficiency in this nutrient also causes your tongue to become bright red.

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The Top Benefits Of Vitamin B3 For Skin

itamin B3, also known as niacin, is a vitamin that is essential to your bodys health but has several key benefits for your skin specifically.

Thats why many serums are developed designed to allow vitamin B3 to penetrate into your skin where it can work its magic.

How do you know how to find the product that is best for your skin?

Keep reading to see the benefits of vitamin B3 for skin and find out how to choose the product for you!

Its Good For The Skin

Niacin is a great supplement for the skin. It can help protect skin cells from sun damage, clear acne when applied topically, and reduce redness and inflammation. Vitamin B3 in the formulation of niacinamide is often used as a natural topical skincare treatment to clear acne. Niacin can even help manage inflammatory skin conditions like bullous pemphigoid or granuloma annulare.

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Niacin Benefits: Is Vitamin B3 Important

Read about the importance of niacin for your body and brain.

Also known as vitamin B3, niacin is one of the eight essential B vitamins we need to survive. Niacin benefits include realizing energy from the food we eat, lowering cholesterol, easing arthritis, and boosting brain function. It’s also known to help improve the nervous system and lead to healthier skin.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at this essential vitamin, what a deficiency could mean, and how to ensure you’re getting enough B3 in your diet.

Atherosclerosis And Heart Disease

What does Vitamin B3 actually do?

In one study, men with existing heart disease slowed down the progression of atherosclerosis by taking niacin along with colestipol. They experienced fewer heart attacks and deaths, as well.

In another study, people with heart disease and high cholesterol who took niacin along with simvastatin had a lower risk of having a first heart attack or stroke. Their risk of death was also lower. In another study, men who took niacin alone seemed to reduce the risk of having a second heart attack, although it did not reduce the risk of death.

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What Is Niacinamide Where Is It From

Niacinamide, which also goes by nicotinamide when its feeling fancy, is one of two forms of vitamin B3. The other is niacin, and while the two sound similar, they are chemically different.

Niacinamide can be found in many foods, including meat, fish, milk, green veggies, avocados and cereal grains. Its also packed into many vitamin B complex supplements alongside its good friends biotin and folic acid. Our bodies can use dietary niacin to create niacinamide inside us, too.

When it comes to skincare products, niacinamide pops up in everything from sunscreen and lotions to facial serums. Thats thanks to its ability to perform amazing feats like even texture, brighten and strengthen skin, and diminish dullness. Its basically a skincare saint!

Of course, were big fans of vitamin B3 for skin over here, which is why youll find niacinamide in our Eyes Eyes Baby eye cream! And dont stress, vegans, because niacinamide is commonly derived from cereals or brewers yeast, not animals.

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Can You Absorb Enough Of Vitamin B3 From Food

Even if you eat meat products, getting your RDA of niacin can be extremely difficult. This substance is incredibly important to your health and well-being, but even the richest animal sources of this nutrient must be consumed in great quantities to meet your recommended daily vitamin B3 intake. Therefore, it might be necessary to take niacin in supplements to avoid becoming deficient.

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It May Protect Against Alzheimers Disease

In a study published by the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, dietary niacin was concluded to be a possible protector against Alzheimers disease and age-related cognitive decline. A higher intake of niacin may be associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline over time.

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Try Vitamin B3 For Skin

Vitamin B3, Niacin or Niacinamide, Harley Street Emporium

The benefits of vitamin B3 for skin mean that it should be an essential part of your anti-acne and anti-aging strategies.

Reduced redness and fewer wrinkles are things that everyone can get behind!

Interested in upgrading your skincare routine with all-natural products designed to maintain a youthful and radiant appearance? Check out our store to find everything from toners to vitamin serums!

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What Results Can You Expect

As with any new skin care product, you probably wont see any significant results for several weeks.

Although most of the available research describes noticeable improvements after four weeks of use, theres no exact timeline.

You may see even more changes to your skin after eight weeks. This includes smoother, toned, and hydrated skin.

If you dont see any changes within a couple of months, it may be time to consult with a dermatologist. They can assess your skin care routine and advise you on which products to use, dietary changes that may improve your skin health, and more.

What Is A Niacin Flush

What is niacin? Niacin or vitamin B3 is an essential vitamin we should all be getting in our diets on a daily basis. According to current USDA standards, adults and children over the age of four should consume about 16 milligrams of B3 per day. What is niacin used for? At significantly higher doses it is used to treat hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol and lower the risk of cardiovascular health concerns.

Vitamin B3 is one of eight B vitamins. This B3 vitamin is also commonly known as as niacin or nicotinic acid. There are also two other forms of the vitamin, niacinamide and inositol hexanicotinate, but these versions have different effects from niacin.

Niacin, or vitamin B3, can naturally be obtained in the diet.Foods high in niacin include things like grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, lamb, salmon, sardines, sunflower seeds and tahini. This B vitamin can also be obtained by supplementing with niacin pills. Like the other B vitamins, niacin is water-soluble rather than fat-soluble, which means that the body does not store it.

What does niacin do? Like the other B vitamin, niacin or B3 helps our bodies convert the food we eat into usable fuel. More specifically, niacin also helps the body to produce key sex hormones as well as stress-related hormones in the adrenal glands and other parts of the body. Niacin benefits also include the vitamins ability to decrease inflammation and boost blood circulation.

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How Much Niacin Should You Take

Since niacin can be used in different ways, talk to your health care provider about the best dosage for you.

Everyone needs a certain amount of niacin — from food or supplements — for the body to function normally. This amount is called the dietary reference intake , a term that is replacing the older and more familiar RDA . For niacin, the DRIs vary with age and other factors and are given in milligrams of niacin equivalents:

  • Children: between 2-16 milligrams daily, depending on age
  • Men: 16 milligrams daily
  • Women : 18 milligrams daily
  • Women : 17 milligrams daily
  • Maximum daily intake for adults of all ages: 35 milligrams daily

Most people can get the amount of niacin they need by eating a healthy diet.

If your doctor prescribes niacin, you might want to take it with food. This can prevent upset stomach. To reduce flushing — a harmless but uncomfortable side effect of niacin that describes redness and warmth in the face and neck — your health care provider might recommend taking niacin along with aspirin and avoiding alcohol and spicy foods.

Niacinamide For Skin: 10 Benefits How To Use

Vitamin B3 Benefits For Skin

Growing up, your parents probably had to beg and cajole you to eat non-kid friendly foods like leafy greens, salmon, and beans. Their reasoning? For the vitamins, of course! And they were right, because every bite you took delivered a host of beneficial goodies to your body. Among the crowd, there was a mighty little vitamin called niacinamide.

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, an essential nutrient that not only works wonders inside the body but outside as well. While it seems like it’s been popping up everywhere these days, niacinamide has been a mainstay in skincare products for years.

Read on to find out more about what niacinamide is and where it comes from, how it can enhance your beauty routine, the benefits of using skincare products that contain it, who it’s best for, and FAQs about this not so new “it” ingredient.

IN A NUTSHELL

Ingredient Category: Antioxidant

Main Benefit: It helps balance natural oils, protect skin from environmental stressors, and brighten and even skin tone.

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May Help Treat Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body attacks and destroys insulin-creating cells in your pancreas.

Theres research to suggest that niacin could help protect those cells and possibly even lower the risk of type 1 diabetes in children who have a higher chance of developing this condition .

However, for people with type 2 diabetes, the role of niacin is more complicated.

On one hand, it can help lower the high cholesterol levels that are often seen in people with type 2 diabetes. On the other, it has the potential to increase blood sugar levels. As a result, people with diabetes who take niacin to treat high cholesterol also need to monitor their blood sugar carefully .

Fortunately, a more recent review of studies found that niacin did not have significant negative effects on blood sugar management in people with type 2 diabetes .

It May Prevent Birth Defects

According to a 2017 study published by The New England Journal of Medicine, niacin supplementation during pregnancy prevented malformations in mice. More human studies need to be done, but preliminary research indicates that niacin may help prevent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide birth defects in humans and lower overall birth defect rates.

On the other hand, caution is advised for niacin supplementation while breastfeeding, as there is limited human data on the effects of niacin in breastmilk. New or expecting mothers should always talk to their healthcare provider before introducing new supplements or medications during pregnancy or lactation.

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Vitaminutes: What Is Vitamin B3

Throughout the Vitaminutes series, weve looked at Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. Today were tackling Vitamin B3, what it is and why you need it.

What it does

Vitamin B3 comprises niacin, also known as niacin or nicotinic acid, and niacinamide, and promotes overall health. Like other B vitamins, it helps the body convert food into energy, and is good for a healthy brain, nervous system and even skin.

Its used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, and some researchers have found it useful in alleviating arthritis pain and stiffness. Possible other uses include prevention of atherosclerosis, Alzheimers disease and cataracts.

Where to find it

You can derive B3 from from meat, fish and poultry, as well as eggs, whole grains, green vegetables, beans and peanut butter, according to the National Institutes of Healths National Library of Medicine.

Both niacin and niacinamide are forms of B3 your body can make niacinamide from miacin, or from tryptophan . Both are available as supplements and sometimes used interchangeably, but not always if using a supplement, consult a doctor.

How much you need

Vitamin B3 is among the water-soluble vitamins, meaning it is not stored in the bodys fat tissues. You need to take in enough daily to sustain functions. Your recommended daily intake: 16 milligrams for adult males and 14 mg for adult females.

If you dont get enough

The last word

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The Benefits Of Vitamin B3

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In short, itâs incredibly restorative. âNicotinamide helps restore cellular energy, repair damaged DNA, and reduce the immunosuppressive effects of sun-induced UV rays.â With a fountain of youth likeness, Herrmann compares vitamin B3 to that of a âwell-oiled machine,â fighting off internal and external stressors that can ultimately lead to the deterioration or breakdown of our skin and premature signs of aging like discoloration and wrinkles.

Concerning brightness specifically, she tells us: âNicotinamide has been shown to prevent the transfer of pigment within the skin, which can help reduce brown spots.â Less redness , preserved hydration, a strengthened skin barrier, and the improved synthesis of healthy fats are other benefits cited by Herrmann.

âI recommend it for my sensitive skin patients, or those with other conditions such as rosacea or eczema,â Nazarian tells us. âIt can also be found in sunscreens, such as Elta MD UV Clear, and is a good option for people who are concerned about irritation from their skincare products or have difficulty using creams due to allergies. The oral version can also be used to treat acneand is great when oral medications such as antibiotics arent well tolerated.â

Liz deSousa for BYRDIE

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What Is Niacinamide

“When we think about the skin benefits of niacinamide, we’re referring to a specific form of B3 called nicotinamide . Nicotinamide is an essential water-soluble vitamin, which is not synthesized in the body, meaning we have to eat it to receive its benefits,” says Herrmann. Additionally, the vitamin has been incorporated into skincare products sinceas Herrmann statedour bodies don’t produce it on their own. Therefore, if we want to reap the brightening benefits of nicotinamide, it needs to be ingested via supplement or applied topically to the skin: “Nicotinamide is in some topical formulations and can be used in the morning or night as a cream, typically after gentle cleansing.” Vitamin B3 can also be found in some of Byrdie HQ’s favorite serums , which can either be applied prior to or into your go-to night cream.

Holly Rhue / Design by Cristina Cianci

After three months of niacinamide use, Byrdie editor Holly Rhue’s skin is calmer and brighter.

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