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Vitamin B
3
Niacin
Niacin or vitamin B
3
refers to two compounds
Nicotinic Acid and Nicotinamide. Both forms of
the vitamin are equally biological active
In addition to B
3
Niacin has historically been
referred to as vitamin PP meaning pellagra‐
preventative
The name Niacin was chosen in order to
disassociate it from nicotine thus to not give the
impression that cigarettes contain vitamins!
B
3
Deficiency
Severe deficiency of niacin in the diet causes the disease
pellagra
Pellagra is characterized by diarrhea, dermatitis, and
dementia, as well as lesions on the lower neck,
hyperpigmentation, thickening of the skin, inflammation
of the mouth and tongue, digestive disturbances,
amnesia, delirium, and eventually death, if left untreated.
Mild deficiency has been shown to cause reduced
metabolism and lowered tolerance to cold
Deficiency is occasionally seen in developed countries, but
more so in conditions of poverty. It can also occur more
frequently in areas with corn as a central staple food.
