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What is the Role of Nicotinamide?

Nicotinamide--otherwise known as niacinamide or vitamin B3--is a water soluble form of the B-complex vitamin niacin. In the human body, nicotinamide is incorporated into the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucelotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine phosphate (NADP).

  1. NAD and NADP

    • NAD and NADP are coenzymes--in other words, small molecules that are essential for the activity of biochemical catalysts, called enzymes--involved in tissue respiration, the metabolism of fats, fatty acids and other lipids and the breakdown of glycogen to glucose. Increasing nicotinamide concentration therefore increases the number of NAD molecules available for these processes and increases the amount of energy available in a cell.

    Sources of Nicotinamide

    • Various food products--meats, peanuts and sunflower seeds in particular--are rich in nicotinamide, but nicotinamide is also available as a dietary supplement under the names niacin, nicotinic acid and inositol hexanicotinate.

    Nicotinamide Deficiency

    • Nicotinamide deficiency can cause pellagra, which is characterized by dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia and, ultimately, death. Nicotinamide deficiency has also been linked to incidences of oral, gastric and colon cancer in some parts of the world.

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