Vitamin B3 Sources, Benefits and Deficiency

Vitamin B-3, also called niacin, is one of the eight water-soluble B complex vitamins. Niacin is required by all living cells, as it helps in the release of energy from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Niacin is also required for the synthesis of amino acids and fat needed for nucleic acid formation. This vitamin is different from the other vitamins of the B-complex group, because an essential amino acid, tryptophan serves as its precursor. Niacin is a major component of the coenzymes - nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). These compounds help remove hydrogen atoms during organic reactions in the body. Since it is a water-soluble vitamin, niacin is absorbed by the intestine; but very little is stored in the View the rest of this article