CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you. Since the early 1940s, NAM and niacin (also known as nicotinic acid (NA)) have been heavily consumed as food supplements in the USA. Per capita consumption of niacin in the USA has doubled since implementation of mandatory niacin fortification in the early 1940s [ 51]. Due to the growing demand for NAM in food additives, cosmetic supplements, and dietary pills, its production has continuously grown. Furthermore, a recent increase in public awareness on the beneficial effects of NAM has caused substantial growth of its production, from 56.520 metric tons in 2012 to 71.192 metric tons in 2016, an increase of 30 % (Global Nicotinamide Market Research Report 2017).

Niacinamide: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects - Verywell Health

That’s because a deficiency of vitamin B3 or tryptophan leads to a disease called pellagra, which is characterized by the four D’s — diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia and, if left untreated, death ( 3). For skin care, niacinamide is often included in facial moisturizing lotions or in products marketed for treating acne or rosacea. Summary Kidney dialysis: Taking niacinamide seems to increase the risk of low platelet levels in people with kidney failure who are on dialysis. Janssens GO, Rademakers SE, Terhaard CH, Doornaert PA, Bijl HP, van den Ende P, Chin A, Marres HA, de Bree R, van der Kogel AJ, Hoogsteen IJ, Bussink J, Span PN, Kaanders JH. Accelerated radiotherapy with carbogen and nicotinamide for laryngeal cancer: results of a phase III randomized trial. J Clin Oncol. 2012 May 20;30(15):1777-83. View abstract.

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Huber R, Wong A. Nicotinamide: an update and review of safety & differences from niacin. Skin Therapy Lett. 2020;25(5):7-11. Nicotinamide has established medical uses to treat conditions stemming from niacin deficiency such as pellagra. Oral and topical formulations are used to treat a variety of inflammatory skin conditions including acne vulgaris and rosacea (1) (24) (2), hyperpigmentation (25) and to prevent hair thinning (26).

British Association of Dermatologists

Polo V, Saibene A, Pontiroli AE. Nicotinamide improves insulin secretion and metabolic control in lean type 2 diabetic patients with secondary failure to sulphonylureas. Acta Diabetol 1998;35:61-4. View abstract. Kolbach DN, Remme JJ, Bos WH, Jonkman ME, De Jong MCJM, Pas HH, Van Der Meer JB. Bullous pemphigoid successfully controlled by tetracycline and nicotinamide. Br J Dermatol 1995; 133: 88–90. PubMed While promising, more research is needed before niacinamide supplements can be recommended as an intervention for type 1 diabetes. SummaryYiasemides E, Sivapirabu G, Halliday GM, et al. Oral nicotinamide protects against ultraviolet radiation-induced immunosuppression in humans. Carcinogenesis. Jan 2009;30(1):101-105. Ketteler M, Wiecek A, Rosenkranz AR, et al. Modified-release nicotinamide for the treatment of hyperphosphataemia in haemodialysis patients: 52-week efficacy and safety results of the phase III randomised controlled NOPHOS trial. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2022. View abstract. Nicotinamide has anti-inflammatory properties, which may be used for the treatment of bullous (blistering) diseases. Jorgensen J. Pellagra probably due to pyrazinamide: development during combined chemotherapy of tuberculosis. Int J Dermatol 1983;22:44-5. View abstract.

NIACINAMIDE - Uses, Side Effects, and More - WebMD

Chronic kidney disease is the progressive loss of kidney function that affects your body’s ability to clean and filter blood and control blood pressure. El‐Khalawany M, Nouh AH, Kadah AS, Elsheikh M, Said M. Evaluation of safety and efficacy of topical 4% nicotinamide in treatment of psoriasis; among a representative sample of Egyptians (An analytical observational study). Dermatologic Therapy. 2022;35(9). doi:10.1111/dth.15734

How does nicotinamide work?

Hui F, Tang J, Williams PA, et al. Improvement in inner retinal function in glaucoma with nicotinamide (vitamin B3) supplementation: A crossover randomized clinical trial. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2020 Sep;48(7):903-914.

Nicotinamide Possible Adverse Effects of High-Dose Nicotinamide

Oxidative DNA damage in hepatic and renal tissues. Impaired glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity Amelioration of acetaminophen-induced biochemical changes but occurrence of hepatotoxicity in healthy animals

Papa CM. Niacinamide and acanthosis nigricans (letter). Arch Dermatol 1984;120:1281. View abstract.