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Vitamin B3 and its importance
Vitamins and minerals are essential to the human body to function at its best. Whether healthy or ill, vitamins are required by each and every human body. They help the body to produce enzymes and other substances to maintain the equilibrium of the body processes. They are needed as essential energy elements. Vitamins are required by the body for growth and general well-being. Though there are several vitamins needed, each and every vitamin has its own significance and importance. One of those vitamins that the body needs is vitamin B3.
Vitamin B3 or also known as Niacin (Nicotinic acid), is one of the 8 b vitamins. Along with the other b vitamins, vitamin B3 helps to convert the food we eat to a more digestible form which is carbohydrates. It is utilized by the body to produce energy.
People nowadays have not given much importance to this vitamin. What they don’t know is that vitamin B3 effectively help in maintaining the normal processes in the body like lowering the cholesterol levels, therefore, preventing the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, according to the study held at the National Institutes of Health (as cited at http://www.nmslabs.com/Vitamin-B3-Niacin), Niacin is an accepted treatment for high cholesterol. It is also beneficial in stabilizing the blood sugar levels. Niacin plays a major role in keeping the overall mental well-being. It is essential to keep the digestive tract functioning properly. In addition, vitamin B3 keeps the skin healthy. It is 
needed to produce hormones like progesterone and testosterone. Niacin has also been studied to reduce the susceptibility of having some specific types of cancer such as leukemia. According to kopelsonclinic.com (http://www.kopelsonclinic.com/anti-aging/how-niacin-vitamin-b3-can-repair-sun-damaged-skin/), vitamin B3 also stimulates and ensures healthy repair of DNA or the genetic material of the cell, while increasing the cell production.
Some sources of Vitamin B3 include the following:
- Vegetable sources like peas, beans, tomatoes, peanuts, beans, sun flower seeds and green vegetables. Whole wheat meal also contains a small of this vitamin.
- Animal sources like organ meats, fish, poultry, milk, cheese and yeast.
- Sunlight which, because of the ozone layer, people have not been receiving this vitamin.
If vitamin B3 is lacking or absent in the body, pellagra can occur. Pellagra is a disease which results to a deficiency on Vitamin B3. It is characterized by having 3 D’s- diarrhea, dementia and dermatitis. At an early onset of pellagra, muscular weakness, skin eruptions including rashes, wrinkles and coarse skin and anorexia or loss of hunger can be experienced. While the late clinical manifestations include the following: headaches and body aches, swollen tongue, dizziness and mood swings.
Checking if you already have the deficiency is widely available to the laboratories. You don’t have to wait to experience the symptoms or if you suspect you lack vitamin b3, you can already undergo some blood tests. Laboratories call it Niacin metabolites where in 1-6 ml of blood is drawn from the vein. Results are then released from 5-11 days depending on the laboratory turnaround time.
Last year I was severely deficient in Vitamin 3 while I am always outside walking my dogs and working in my yard. I had to take 50,000 iu per day for 3 months to bring me back up to a healthy level. Now I take 5000 iu per day. Always work with your doctor or healthcare provider before you take any extra supplements.
Adding food rich in vitamin B3 is one of the solutions to the deficiency. There are also medications available which can also supplement the lacking vitamin. But always remember to consult to your physician first before taking them.
It’s never too late to add vitamin B3 into your diet. Awareness to such deficiency can make you more equipped on what to do. Doctor’s advice is always important whenever taking any new medication or if you are experiencing any signs and symptoms.
