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Effect of Niacin on Glucose Levels

Niacin is a vitamin synthesized in the body by the amino acid tryptophan. It is also found in all protein-containing foods. Niacin is important in several metabolic processes such as glycolysis (breakdown of carbohydrate to produce energy).
Study the glycolysis pathway as an example to show the effect of niacin to glucose levels.

  1. Glycolysis

    • Glycolysis is one of the metabolic processes that uses both niacin and glucose; it is the pathway of converting glucose to energy. While the whole process of glycolysis is quite involved, a quick look at the principle can demonstrate the relationship of niacin to glucose levels.

    Niacin

    • Niacin is utilized by the body in two common forms: 1) Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) -- a part of coenzyme I; and 2) Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) -- a part of coenzyme II. Both NAD and NADP are needed in the glycolysis pathway. These coenzymes assist in both aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen) metabolism of glucose. They function as acceptors and donators of Hydrogen protons in the redox (oxidation-reduction) reactions of glycolysis.

    Glucose

    • Glucose is formed from the digestion of foods containing carbohydrates. It undergoes glycolysis to produce energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

    The Principle

    • In glycolysis, the stored glucose in the body, together with niacin (in the form of NAD/NADP); reacts to other substances to form energy (ATP). Therefore, if niacin is not available, glucose will not be converted into its energy form (see diagram 1).

    Effect of Niacin

    • An increase in niacin level will make the glucose conversion faster, thus lowering glucose levels (see diagram 2). In contrast, lack of niacin hinders the normal breakdown of glucose, hence, there's a possibility that glucose levels will accumulate over time as you consume more carbohydrates.

    Significance

    • Niacin (in large volumes) is utilized therapeutically to decrease the amount of cholesterol in the body. This might be attributed to the fact that increasing niacin lowers glucose levels, so the body adjusts and uses the stored cholesterol, as a substitute, to produce energy. This substitution as source of energy results to a decrease in cholesterol level.

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