Stakeholder Panel Meeting Book - September 6, 2014
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.
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