Niacinamide (B3)

Description

Potent Natural Help for Arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Anxiety and Type I Diabetes

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide and nicotinic acid amide, is a form of vitamin B3 (the other form is niacin).

Niacin is converted to into nicotinamide in the body, but these two different forms of B3 have slightly different effects. Niacinamide does not lower cholesterol or cause the flushing that niacin does.(1)

Consider Niacinamide for:

• Osteoarthritis – niacinamide has been shown to improve joint mobility, reduce inflammation and allow for a decrease in arthritis medication.(2,3)
• Alzheimer’s disease – a recent study found that niacinamide completely reverses symptoms of the disease in lab animals (4), and human trial are now under way. (5)
• Memory improvement – The findings were so dramatic in the Alzheimer’s study that researchers suggest that even people with non-Alzheimer’s memory changes may benefit.(5)
• Diabetes Type I- niacinamide reduces glycosylated hemoglobin, retards beta cell death (beta cells produce insulin) and helps prevent cell damage by restoring NAD levels.(6-8)
• Anxiety and Stress – niacinamide has benzodiazepine-like actions which help balance brain chemistry and relieve anxiety. Study participants also reported better sleep with niacinamide.(9-10)

Dr. Myatt’s comment: Although Big Pharma always tells us to “wait for more research” (which really means, “wait until we can figure out how to patent this as a drug”), I personally would not delay in starting niacinamide for early memory changes. The sooner corrective treatment is started, the greater the likelihood that it will help.

Niacinamide has been used safely since the 1940’s for arthritis and memory loss and it has an excellent safety profile.

Suggested dose: 1,000mg, 3 times per day with meals
Although it is rare, if this dose causes stomach upset, reduce to 500mg, 3 times per day and consult an holistic physician for guidance.

In both arthritis and memory loss, effects of niacinamide typically take 3-4 weeks to appear and 3-4 months to reach full effect.

References

1.) P Jaconello. Niacin versus niacinamide.CMAJ. 1992 October 1; 147(7): 990.
2.) Jonas WB, Rapoza CP, Blair WF. The effect of niacinamide on osteoarthritis: a pilot study. Inflamm Res. 1996 Jul;45(7):330-4.
3.) McCarty MF, Russell AL. Niacinamide therapy for osteoarthritis–does it inhibit nitric oxide synthase induction by interleukin 1 in chondrocytes? Med Hypotheses. 1999 Oct;53(4):350-60.
4.) Green KN, Steffan JS, Martinez-Coria H, et al. “ Nicotinamide restores cognition in Alzheimer’s disease transgenic mice via a mechanism involving sirtuin inhibition and selective reduction of Thr231-phosphotau.”J Neurosci 2008; 28(45): 11,500-11,510
5.) “Vitamin pill that may slow Alzheimer’s goes on trial,” The Guardian
(www.guardian.co.uk), 11/5/08
6.) Kolb H, Bukart V: Nicotinamide in type 1 diabetes. Mechanism of action revisited. Diabetes Care 1999 Mar;22 Suppl 2:B16-20
7.) Pozzilli P, Visalli N, Ghirlanda G, Manna R, Andreani D; Nicotinamide increases C-peptide secretion in patients with recent onset type 1 diabetes. Diabet Med 1989 Sep-Oct;6(7):568-72
8.) Vague P, Vialettes B, Lassmann-Vague V, Vallo J; Nicotinamide may extend remission phase of insulin-dependent diabetes. The Lancet Mar 1987 ltr
9.) Akhundov RA, Sultanov AA, Gadzhily RA, Sadykhov RV; [Psychoregulating role of nicotinamide]. Biull Eksp Biol Med 1993 May;115(5):487-91.
10.) Mohler H, Pole P, Cumin R, Pieri L, Kettler R; Nicotinamide is a brain constituent with benzodiazepine-like actions. Nature 1979 Apr 5;278(5704):563-5.