MAIN Health Vitamins & Minerals Vitamin B3

A powerful member of the B-complex family, vitamin B3, or niacin, is important for converting calories from protein, fat and carbohydrates into energy.

It also helps in digestive processes, and promotes a healthy appetite, while recent research also suggests a role in lowering cholesterol, fighting heart disease and regulating diabetes.

Vitamin B3 is a water soluble vitamin which aids the body in a number of crucial ways, and provides a number of health benefits when taken above the recommended dietary allowance and should be strongly considered as a possible supplement.

Vitamin B3's most dramatic results as a supplement come from the positive effect it has on the heart. In countless research studies, vitamin B3 has been shown to be beneficial for a variety of heart related problems such as helping heart attack patients recover from heart attacks better, helping to alleviate problems that arise as a result of angina, and vitamin B3 has also been shown to help patients get through bypass surgeries more successfully. Vitamin B3 also benefits the hearts of healthy people and has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels

One very common use that vitamin B3 could have is as a treatment for asthma. In one research study, it was shown to have a positive effect on asthma sufferers. Vitamin B3 acts as a bronchial relaxant, which allows for better airway functioning.

Vitamin B3 also provides a number of benefits to the skin, and has been used to treat various skin pigmentation problems. It has also been successfully used as a treatment for a variety of skin reactions such as acne.

There is also some important research that shows a link between vitamin B3 and arthritis and has been used as a treatment for the condition with a great deal of success.

In nature, high amounts of vitamin B3 are found mostly in meat products, dairy products, and nuts. Vitamin B3 can also be found in products that contain yeast.

More about Vitamin B3 around the Web:

Vitamin B3 - Niacin - Overview of water-soluble vitamins, recommended daily requirements for B3 along with good food sources, deficiency dangers.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) - General facts and information, and its use in treating a variety of conditions including diabetes, cataracts and high cholesterol, plus good food sources and supplements, recommended daily allowances by age level, potential for side effects and interactions with medications and dietary supplements.

Niacin (Nicotinic Acid) - Complete overview of indications and usage, absorption and excretion, deficiency dangers and symptoms, drug and food interactions, dosage recommendations by age level and references, from PDRhealth.

Vitamin B3 and Arthritis - Share the Wealth - A discussion on Dr. William Kaufman's research into the use of B3 in the treatment of arthritis, with related studies and bibliography.

Lowering Cholesterol with Niacin/Nicotinic acid? - Q&A on nicotinic acid's use in lowering LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while raising "good" HDL-cholesterol with a discussion on its benefits and side effects.

Vitamin B3 Research - 'Plain English' summaries of recent studies relating to B3 treatment for high cholesterol, heart disease, dyslipidemia, and other conditions.

also in Vitamins & Minerals --> Vitamin A | Vitamin B1 | Vitamin B2

Vitamin B6 | Vitamin B12 | B-Complex | Beta-carotene