Vitamin B3, Niacin

Vitamin B3, Niacin helps turn food into energy

  • Water soluble vitamin; body can't store
  • Found in both plants and animal sources
  • Deficiency linked to chronic alcohol, digestive disorders

Health Benefits:

  • improves digestion, skin
  • lower cholesterol, blood sugar
  • prevent heart disease
  • boost brain function, mental health

Low intake of Vitamin B3, Niacin

Symptoms of low Vitamin B3, Niacin intake

  • Bright red tongue
  • Depression
  • Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
  • Fatigue, Disorientation
  • Headache, Irritability
  • Insomnia, Memory loss

Causes of low Vitamin B3, Niacin intake

  • Alcoholism
  • Anorexia
  • Cancer
  • Crohn's disease, Inflammatory bowel disease
  • HIV
  • Liver disease

Excess intake of Vitamin B3, Niacin

Symptoms of excess intake of Vitamin B3, Niacin

  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
  • Gout, Dryness, Itching
  • Rapid heartbeat, High BP
  • Skin and mouth lesions
  • Skin flushing with dizziness

At risk for excess Vitamin B3, Niacin

  • Supplement use only

Vitamin B3, Niacin Content in Foods

Foods High in Vitamin B3, Niacin

FoodServing SizeB3, Niacin
Yellowfin tuna, cooked6 oz37.5 mg
Acai berry drink, fortified1 cup24.1 mg
Turkey breast, roasted6 oz20 mg
Chicken breast, roasted1 cup19.2 mg
Bluefin tuna, cooked6 oz17.9 mg
Sockeye salmon, cooked6 oz17.2 mg
Pork chops1 chop15.2 mg
Beef liver, pan fried3 oz14.9 mg
Orange juice1 cup12.5 mg
Mahimahi, cooked1 fillet11.8 mg

Foods Low in Vitamin B3, Niacin

FoodServing SizeB3, Niacin
Cranberry juice1 cup0.1 mg
Apple1 medium0.2 mg
Hummus1 Tbsp0.2 mg
Milk, 1%1 cup0.2 mg
Hot cocoa1 cup0.3 mg
Merlot, Red wine5 oz0.3 mg
Yogurt, plain, low fat1 cup0.3 mg
Dark chocolate, 70-85% cocoa1 oz0.3 mg
Blue cheese, Feta cheese1 oz0.3 mg
Cashews, dry roasted1 oz0.4 mg

References

What You Should Know About Water-Soluble Vitamins. (2023). Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/water-soluble-vitamins/
Niacin. (2022). National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Niacin-HealthProfessional/
Otten, J., Hellwig, J., & Meyers, L. (2006). Dietary Reference Intakes: The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements. Institute of Medicine. https://www.nationalacademies.org/HMD/Activities/Nutrition/SummaryDRIs/DRI-Tables
Niacin (mg). (n.d.). U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FoodData Central. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/?component=1167
Nutrients: Niacin (mg). (n.d.). USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Legacy. https://www.nal.usda.gov/sites/www.nal.usda.gov/files/Niacin.pdf
Zeratsky RD LD, K. (2022). Niacin overdose: What are the symptoms? Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/expert-answers/niacin-overdose/faq-20058075

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