| | | Aging |  Alzheimer's Disease
  | An over-the-counter vitamin in high doses prevented memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and UC Irvine scientists now are conducting a clinical trial to determine its effect in humans.
Nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, lowered levels of a protein called phosphorylated tau that leads to the development of tangles, one of two brain lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease. This is also known as niacinamide and nicotinic acid amide. The vitamin also strengthened scaffolding along which information travels in brain cells, helping to keep neurons alive and further preventing symptoms in mice genetically wired to develop Alzheimer's.
"Nicotinamide has a very robust effect on neurons," said Kim Green, UCI scientist and lead author of the study. "Nicotinamide prevents loss of cognition in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and the beauty of it is we already are moving forward with a clinical trial."
Scientists found that the nicotinamide-treated animals had dramatically lower levels of the tau protein that leads to the Alzheimer's tangle lesion. The vitamin did not affect levels of the protein beta amyloid, which clumps in the brain to form plaques, the second type of Alzheimer's lesion.
Nicotinamide, they found, led to an increase in proteins that strengthen microtubules, the scaffolding within brain cells along which information travels. When this scaffolding breaks down, the brain cells can die. Neuronal death leads to dementia experienced by Alzheimer's patients.
"Microtubules are like highways inside cells. What we're doing with nicotinamide is making a wider, more stable highway," Green said. "In Alzheimer's disease, this highway breaks down. We are preventing that from happening."
The study appeared online Nov. 5, 2008 in the Journal of Neuroscience. |
 Parkinson's Disease / Risk
| | Niacinamide (nicotinamide) enhances mitochondrial energy production and may help protect mitochondria from damage by toxic substances. A product derived from nicotinamide, called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), is essential for cell development and energy production.
Animal studies suggest that the protective effects from an oral nicotinamide supplement are greatest when given early in the course of Parkinson’s disease, before dopamine is severely depleted. The benefits of NADH in Parkinson’s disease may result from its ability to reduce inflammation within the brain and from its effect on the immune system. |
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Allergy |
Allergic Rhinitis / Hay Fever
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Autoimmune |
Diabetes Type I
| | Niacinamide improves ATP mitochondrial production in the face of diabetogenic chemicals and thus allows Islet cells to stay alive. The Type I honeymoon period can just be extended 12-18 months and insulin requirements may be less. |
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Infections |
Sinusitis
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Mental |
Anxiety
| | The textbook description of anxiety neurosis exactly matches the symptoms of vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency: hyperactivity, depression, fatigue, apprehension, headache, and insomnia. It has been shown in animals to work in the brain in ways similar to drugs such as benzodiazepines (Valium-type drugs) that are used to treat anxiety. One study found that niacinamide (not niacin) could help people get through withdrawal from benzodiazepines, which is a common problem. A reasonable amount of niacinamide to take for anxiety, according to some doctors, is up to 500mg four times per day.
Niacinamide locks onto the same receptor sites in the brain as do tranquilizers such as Valium, and is a natural tranquilizer. The manufacturer of valium is also the worlds largest manufacturer of niacinamide. [Nature 278: pp.563-65,1979] |
Poor Sense of Humor
| | Early signs of Vitamin B3 (Niacin) depletion include the loss of a sense of humor. |
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Metabolic |
 Methylation, Excess
Hypoglycemia
Headaches, Migraine/Tension
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Musculo-Skeletal |
Osteoarthritis
| | Results may be seen in 3-4 weeks with a plateau of improvement reached at 12 weeks. The dose may be lowered at this time but if discontinued, the symptoms will come back. Intake of 500mg 3-6 times daily has commonly been recommended. Sustained release forms require less frequent dosing.[ Inflamm Res 1996;45: pp.330-4]
Wayne Jonas from the NIH Office of Alternative Medicine conducted a 12 week, double-blind, placebo controlled study of 72 patients to assess the validity of Dr. Kaufman’s earlier work with niacinamide and osteoarthritis. Using a dose of 3 grams of niacinamide per day, they found that overall disease severity was reduced by 29%, inflammation was reduced by 22% and the use of anti-inflammatory medication was reduced by 13%. Patients taking the placebo, on the other hand, either had no improvement, or actually worsened. |
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Nutrients |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Requirement
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Organ Health |
Cirrhosis of the Liver
| | Niacinamide can protect the liver against alcohol-induced damage. |
Diabetes Type II
| | Niacinamide improves ATP mitochondrial production in the face of diabetogenic chemicals and thus allows insulin-producing cells of the pancreas to stay alive longer. In one trial, newly diagnosed patients were given niacinamide at 25mg per kg of body weight. This restored the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas in some, slowed the cellular destruction in others and left a number no longer diabetic. Use in diabetic patients should always be monitored by a physician as insulin requirements may change. |
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Risks |
Increased Risk of Alzheimer's / Dementia
| | An over-the-counter vitamin in high doses prevented memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and UC Irvine scientists now are conducting a clinical trial to determine its effect in humans.
Nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, lowered levels of a protein called phosphorylated tau that leads to the development of tangles, one of two brain lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease. The vitamin also strengthened scaffolding along which information travels in brain cells, helping to keep neurons alive and further preventing symptoms in mice genetically wired to develop Alzheimer's.
"Nicotinamide has a very robust effect on neurons," said Kim Green, UCI scientist and lead author of the study. "Nicotinamide prevents loss of cognition in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and the beauty of it is we already are moving forward with a clinical trial."
Scientists found that the nicotinamide-treated animals had dramatically lower levels of the tau protein that leads to the Alzheimer's tangle lesion. The vitamin did not affect levels of the protein beta amyloid, which clumps in the brain to form plaques, the second type of Alzheimer's lesion.
Nicotinamide, they found, led to an increase in proteins that strengthen microtubules, the scaffolding within brain cells along which information travels. When this scaffolding breaks down, the brain cells can die. Neuronal death leads to dementia experienced by Alzheimer's patients.
"Microtubules are like highways inside cells. What we're doing with nicotinamide is making a wider, more stable highway," Green said. "In Alzheimer's disease, this highway breaks down. We are preventing that from happening."
The study appeared online Nov. 5, 2008 in the Journal of Neuroscience. |
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Skin-Hair-Nails |
Concern Over Wrinkled Skin
| | In a double-blind study of 50 women with signs of aging skin, use of niacinamide cream significantly improved skin appearance and elasticity as compared to placebo cream. [Bissett DL, Oblong JE, Berge CA et al. Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatol Surg. 2005;31:860-5; discussion 865] |
Adult Acne
| | Though harder to find, a topically applied 4% solution of niacinamide compared very favorably to Clindamycin in one trial. Oral niacinamide is unlikely to be of benefit.
Systemic and topical antimicrobials are effective in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris; however, widespread use of these agents is becoming increasingly associated with the emergence of resistant pathogens raising concerns about microorganism resistance and highlighting the need for alternative nonantimicrobial agents for the treatment of acne. Nicotinamide gel provides potent antiinflammatory activity without the risk of inducing bacterial resistance. METHODS. In our double-blind investigation, the safety and efficacy of topically applied 4% nicotinamide gel was compared to 1% clindamycin gel for the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris. Seventy-six patients were randomly assigned to apply either 4% nicotinamide gel (n = 38) or 1% clindamycin gel (n = 38) twice daily for 8 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated at 4 and 8 weeks using a Physician's Global Evaluation, Acne Lesion Counts, and an Acne Severity Rating. RESULTS. After 8 weeks, both treatments produced comparable (P = 0.19) beneficial results in the Physician's Global Evaluation of Inflammatory Acne; 82% of the patients treated with nicotinamide gel and 68% treated with clindamycin gel were improved. Both treatments produced statistically similar reductions in acne lesions (papules/pustules; -60%, nicotinamide vs. -43%, clindamycin, P = 0.168), and acne severity (-52% nicotinamide group vs. -38% clindamycin group, P = 0.161). CONCLUSIONS. These data demonstrate that 4% nicotinamide gel is of comparable efficacy to 1% clindamycin gel in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Because topical clindamycin, like other antimicrobials, is associated with emergence of resistant microorganisms, nicotinamide gel is a desirable alternative treatment for acne vulgaris. |
Hives
| | Should be taken in combination with Tyrosine. See Hives/Tyrosine note. |
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