Vitamin B3 (Vitamin PP)
B3, or niacin, named from nicotinic acid, is a vitamin found in and added to foods and is also used as a natural drug to lower cholesterol levels. Niacin is the most cost-effective and safe medication to lower the bad LDL cholesterol and increase the good HDL cholesterol in the blood, but you must take higher amounts than what is found in a typical multivitamin for such a therapeutic treatment. Side effects are possible but occur less frequently than with other current medications.
Niacin causes the famous facial or body flush, a hot flash that is unpleasant to some, through vascular stimulation in the small capillaries. These capillaries also release histamine — your body's chemical signal to start an immune or infection-fighting process. When you release histamine, you get the typical allergy symptoms of itchiness, water release, swelling, or redness. The form of B3 called nicotinamide doesn't cause flushing, but it also doesn't have the benefit of other niacin positives, like reducing histamine levels or lowering cholesterol.
Key uses of vitamin B3:
- The amino acid tryptophan, which functions in enzymes that are involved in more than 50 different metabolic reactions, is converted in the body to niacin. Vitamin B6 is a cofactor in this reaction.
- Used to help lower cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
- Supports sugar metabolism.
- Reduces allergic reactions.
Where you can find it: The best sources of niacin are peanuts, organ meats, poultry, and fish; it's also found in legumes, whole grains, avocados, and dried fruits.
How much to take: Your body needs about 15 to 20 mg of vitamin B3 daily, although common intakes in supplements are 25 to 50 mg, and therapeutic levels (especially for lowering cholesterol) go up to several grams (3,000 mg) daily. A new extended-release product is now available in capsules or tablets. Taking niacin regularly, and slowly, tapering up from 200 mg daily to a gram or two can help reduce the unpleasant flushing reaction. Have your liver enzymes checked every 4 to 6 months if you are taking these therapeutic levels of niacin.
Too little or too much: Niacin deficiency disease is called pellagra and is characterized by dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia (brain dysfunction), and other common symptoms of B3 deficiency. Toxicity is infrequent in reasonable doses, but you may experience liver irritation from higher amounts of time-released niacin products.
Great source of most vitamins and minerals are Vision Supplements. They are 100% organic products.
Vision supplements contains this vitamin : Nutrimax, Pax, Lifepac Senior, Lifepac Junior.
