Niacinamide (Nicotinamide)

What is niacinamide?

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3, also known as nicotinamide. It is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for human health and well-being. Unlike Niacin, Niacinamide does not cause skin flushing or lower cholesterol levels.

How does it work?

Niacinamide has a wide range of health benefits and works by several mechanisms. It helps to regulate gene expression, improve cellular energy production, maintain skin health, and support the immune system. It has antioxidant properties that protect cells against oxidative damage and reduce inflammation. Additionally, Niacinamide has been shown to improve the symptoms of some skin conditions such as acne and rosacea.

What are the active ingredients that are important for its medicinal properties?

The active ingredient in Niacinamide is Vitamin B3.

What forms does it come in?

Niacinamide is available in several forms, including oral supplements, topical creams, and injections.

What if there’s an imbalance or deficiency?

If there is a deficiency of Niacinamide, it can lead to pellagra, a condition characterized by symptoms such as skin lesions, diarrhea, and dementia. An imbalance of Niacinamide can also lead to other health problems.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

Niacinamide has been used for medicinal purposes since the 1940s, when it was first isolated from liver extract. Since then, it has been widely researched and used to treat various health conditions.

Summary:

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) that is essential for human health and well-being. It has a wide range of health benefits, including regulating gene expression, improving cellular energy production, maintaining skin health, and supporting the immune system. It is available in various forms, including oral supplements, topical creams, and injections, and has been used for medicinal purposes since the 1940s. Niacinamide is found in foods such as pork, beef liver, salmon, and peanuts. A deficiency of Niacinamide can lead to pellagra, while an imbalance can cause other health problems. Niacinamide is generally well tolerated and has few side effects, with the recommended daily dose for adults being between 10 to 50 mg. It can be taken at any time of the day with or without food.

What does Niacinamide (Nicotinamide) help with?

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. It is also called nicotinamide. People use it on the skin in creams and serums, or take it by mouth as a pill.

• Rough sun-damage spots and skin cancer risk in people with past skin cancers
  Good evidence — one 386-person randomised trial of pills taken by mouth. In a 386-person trial, people took 500 mg nicotinamide twice a day for a year. They had fewer new non-melanoma skin cancers and fewer sun-damage spots than the placebo group. This trial, called ONTRAC, was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T0
• Melasma and stubborn dark patches
  Early evidence — small human studies against hydroquinone cream; sizes not on file. Our file reports human evidence for it as a gentler option than hydroquinone cream. The main reported gain was less stinging and irritation, which mattered for sensitive or darker skin. The trial sizes and doses are not recorded here.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Uneven tone and dark marks left after acne
  Early evidence — small human studies plus lab work on pigment; sizes not on file. In lab work, niacinamide slowed the move of pigment up toward the skin's surface. In the studies on file, people saw tone even out over 4 to 8 weeks of daily use. Those studies' sizes and doses are not recorded here.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Dry skin and a damaged skin barrier
  Early evidence — small human studies plus lab work on skin fats. In lab studies, niacinamide raised the skin's output of ceramides and other barrier fats. These fats are known to help skin hold water. The human studies on file were small, and their sizes are not listed.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Large or visible pores
  Early evidence — small human studies; sizes and doses not on file. In the studies on file, pores looked smaller after 4 to 6 weeks of daily use. Researchers linked this to firmer skin and less surface oil. No trial sizes or doses are recorded here.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Acne with red, sore breakouts
  Early evidence — small human studies; sizes and strengths not on file. Studies on file report less redness and swelling in acne-prone skin. Daily use next to other acne creams did not add irritation. Our file does not list the trial sizes or the strength used.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Fine lines and early signs of aging
  Early evidence — some small human studies of skin texture and stretch. Some studies measured better skin texture and stretch with steady use. Lab work links this to collagen and to skin holding more water. The size and length of those studies are not on file.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Redness and easily irritated skin
  Evidence doesn't support this — mechanism reasoning only; no trial named in our file. Our file reports calmer, less red skin over time with use. It names no trial, no size and no dose for this use. So the human evidence here stays weak.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T0
• Oily, shiny or congested skin
  Evidence doesn't support this — practice reports; no trial sizes, doses or results on file. Our file says it is widely used for shine and clogged pores. But it holds no trial size, dose or result for oil output. Treat this use as unproven for now.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T0

What Niacinamide (Nicotinamide) has not been shown to do

• The 386-person trial found fewer non-melanoma skin cancers; it did not show fewer melanomas.
• No evidence on file shows it stops sunburn, so it is not a stand-in for sunscreen.
• Nothing on file shows it erases deep wrinkles or lifts sagging skin.
• No study on file shows it clears severe or cystic acne on its own.
• No study on file shows quick results; skin changes took 4 to 8 weeks.
• Niacinamide is not niacin, the flushing form of B3, and our file holds no evidence here for cholesterol or blood fats.

How to read this:

Each use has its own grade. A means steady results across randomised human trials. B means at least one good human trial. C means small or mixed human studies. D means the human evidence is weak or clashes. Insufficient means no human study at all. A high grade for one use does not carry over to another. This page reports what studies found. It is not advice, and it is not a promise of results. Talk with your own clinician before you start.

What can Niacinamide (Nicotinamide) help prevent?

• Actinic keratoses recurrence (with oral niacinamide in high-risk individuals)
• Non-melanoma skin cancer risk reduction (oral, in immunosuppressed or high UV-exposure populations)
• Transepidermal water loss and chronic skin dryness

Which foods are rich in it?

The following foods are rich in Niacinamide:

• Pork
• Beef liver
• Salmon
• Tuna
• Turkey
• Peanuts
• Brown rice
• Avocado
• Asparagus
• Green peas
• Dairy products (milk and cheese)

What are possible side effects?

The most common side effects of Niacinamide are:

• Nausea (5%)
• Vomiting (2%)
• Abdominal cramps (1%)
• Diarrhea (1%)
• Flushing

Niacinamide is generally well tolerated and has few side effects.

What's the recommended daily dose?

The recommended daily dose of Niacinamide for adults is between 10 to 50 mg.

For adult men is 16 mg, and for adult women, it is 14 mg.

How many days does it take to work?

The time it takes for Niacinamide to work varies depending on the individual and the condition being treated. In some cases, it can take several weeks to see the benefits of Niacinamide. For skin conditions, such as acne and hyperpigmentation, it may take several weeks to see results.

What time of day is best to take it?

Niacinamide can be taken at any time of the day, with or without food. Some people find that taking it with food can reduce the risk of digestive side effects.

Is it best to take it with or without food?

It is best to take Niacinamide with food to prevent stomach upset.