Source: Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) Revision Year: 2019 Publisher: Dermal Laboratories, Tatmore Place, Gosmore, Hitchin, Herts SG4 7QR, UK
Niacin (nicotinic acid) is an essential B complex Vitamin (B3), whose deficiency results in the clinical syndrome known as pellagra. Nicotinic acid is converted in the body to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), which function as coenzymes for a wide variety of vital oxidation-reduction reactions. Nicotinamide (niacinamide), the active ingredient, is the physiologically active form of niacin and is the chemical form of Vitamin B3 found in virtually all multivitamin products. Though nicotinic acid and nicotinamide are so closely related chemically, they differ somewhat in pharmacological properties. Nicotinic acid products exhibit moderately intense cutaneous vasodilation, resulting frequently in mild headaches and flushing or tingling of the skin, but such reactions have not been observed with nicotinamide. Nicotinic acid has also been used for its effect to lower plasma cholesterol, again a property not shared by nicotinamide.
Nicotinamide has demonstrated beneficial effects on inflammatory acne. It is considered that these effects are related to its significant anti-inflammatory activity.
Following oral administration, nicotinamide is readily absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract and widely distributed in the body tissues. The main route of metabolism is the conversion to N-methylnicotinamide and the 2-pyridone and 4-pyridone derivatives; nicotinuric acid is also formed. Small amounts of nicotinamide are excreted unchanged in the urine; this amount increases with larger doses.
Nicotinic acid amide (nicotinamide) has been recognised since 1937 as an essential B complex vitamin whose deficiency results in the clinical syndrome known as pellagra. It is widely available, in tablets and in sterile solution in water for intravenous administration, for the prophylaxis and treatment of pellagra and nutritional deficiency.
In the United States, nicotinamide is included in the Food and Drug Administration’s listing of nutritional agents which are Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS).
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