“Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)?”Here!niacinamide, nicotinamide
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As a supplement
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One of two common forms of vitamin B3 (niacin), a water-soluble vitamin the body needs for energy metabolism. Unlike the other form, nicotinic acid, niacinamide does not typically cause skin flushing at nutritional doses.
Why it’s used
Taken to meet the body's niacin requirement and to correct deficiency; also taken by some for skin or joint-related reasons.
What the evidence is for
preventing and correcting niacin deficiency.
What the evidence says
According to NIH's Office of Dietary Supplements, niacin (including the niacinamide form) is well established as essential to prevent and correct deficiency, which in severe form causes pellagra. Evidence for niacinamide's use beyond correcting deficiency, such as for skin or joint complaints, is less developed and more mixed.
Dose studied
14–35 mg — adult RDA for niacin up to the tolerable upper intake level, per NIH ODS.
Context
Recommended intakes are set as niacin equivalents from food and supplements combined; a tolerable upper intake level has been set mainly because of flushing from the nicotinic acid form, which niacinamide does not typically cause at similar doses.
Rumors
Preventing and correcting the pellagra of niacin deficiency — a rash on sun-exposed skin, vomiting and diarrhea, and depression and memory loss that can end in death.
Supports — establishedhealth and safety evidence
Studied in: people with undernutrition, malabsorption, or genetic/metabolic conditions affecting niacin/tryptophan status (e.g., Hartnup disease, carcinoid syndrome).
Measured as a biomarker.
- Niacin — Health Professional Fact Sheet (Regulatory) · Funding not checked
How much is a reference amount
- 14 mg NE a dayfor adults 19 and over, women · Recommended Dietary Allowance
Upper limit 35 mg a day, from supplements only — it does not apply to the same nutrient in food.
- 16 mg NE a dayfor adults 19 and over, men · Recommended Dietary Allowance
Upper limit 35 mg a day, from supplements only — it does not apply to the same nutrient in food.
The RDA is in niacin equivalents (1 NE = 1 mg niacin or 60 mg tryptophan); the UL is in mg and applies only to supplemental niacin, not to niacin from food.
Every applicable line is shown because we don’t know which one is yours, and a reference intake is a target for a population, not a threshold for harm.