The body needs a wide cocktail of vitamins and nutrients just to function – let alone thrive.
But with so many different requirements to keep tabs on, it’s easy to fall behind. After all, the names of some nutrients don’t roll off the tongue, and if you also don’t have regular blood tests, it can be easy to become deficient in any number of nutrients or vitamins without knowing anything about it.
In today’s post, we’ll be turning our attention to niacin. Like other ingredients that can be found within our Optml supplement consisting of our Rest and Rise formulas, if you’re low in niacin, the body will have a way of telling you something is off balance.
Here is what you need to know about niacin including its benefits and how supplementation can make it easier than ever to top up your levels of this essential vitamin.
What Is Niacin?
Niacin (also known as Vitamin B3) is one of the 8 main B vitamins. The other names that niacin is associated with include nicotinic acid or niacinamide.
The role of niacin in the body can best be simplified by that it is responsible for obtaining energy from the food that you eat. This involves fuelling over 400 biochemical reactions in the body, making niacin an essential ingredient for feeling energised.
The body mostly gets niacin through foods such as mushrooms, chicken, peanuts, broccoli and pepper. Though niacin is water-soluble meaning the body doesn’t store it, and the body can excrete excess amounts of niacin through urine. This means niacin deficiencies can also occur, since the body requires a steady stream of it for energy releasing processes to remain consistent.
The RDA for Vitamin B3 is 16.5mg a day for men and 13.2mg a day for women.
Niacin Deficiency Symptoms
- bright red tongue
- constipation or diarrhoea
- depression
- fatigue
- headache
- loss of appetite
- memory loss
- skin rash or discolouration
- vomiting
Niacin Benefits
The B Vitamins group in general is associated with energy levels. Here is what Vitamin B3 (niacin) specifically can help your body with:
Can improve blood fat levels – Niacin may help to improve blood fat levels, by raising good cholesterol levels (HDL) and lowering bad cholesterol levels (LDL). It also works to reduce the levels of triglyceride in the blood.
Although niacin isn’t a primary treatment for high cholesterol, in addition to any other measures you are taking to improve your health it can be beneficial.
Can reduce blood pressure – A study of 12,000 patients was conducted, and it found that niacin was associated with a decrease in the risk of developing high blood pressure. One of the roles of niacin is to help widen the blood vessels, which improves blood flow and this in turn reduces blood pressure.
May help treat type 1 diabetes – In type 1 diabetes, the body attacks insulin creating cells that can be found within the pancreas. It is thought that niacin could help protect these cells and lower the risk of children developing the condition.
Can boost brain function – The brain requires a plethora of vitamins and nutrients to function correctly, and niacin is firmly on this list. Niacin can boost brain function as it’s essential for the body to extract the energy it needs from your food. Research even suggests niacin can be beneficial in reducing the symptoms of brain fog, Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.
May improve skin health – Skin cells can be protected from damage when niacin is consumed. This includes whether niacin is applied topically or taken as a supplement. A study of those at high risk of developing skin cancer also found that niacin can reduce the rates of nonmelanoma from developing.
Niacin Supplementation
Want to enjoy the benefits of niacin? Supplementation is the easiest way to get niacin into your daily diet, and when combined with a healthy lifestyle will offer the maximum level of benefit.
Niacin (Vitamin B3) is a key ingredient of our Rise formula here at Optml. Rise has been developed to help you feel energised throughout the day, and in combination with other ingredients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B12 and iron, this will help you feel like the best version of yourself, especially if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms.
It couldn’t be easier to stay on top of your niacin levels with Optml. Try Optml today for just £17 for a month’s supply, and enjoy better mood and energy levels during the day, and an enhanced quality of sleep at night.