VITAMIN B3 - NIACIN

Healthy Nervous System

Vitamin B3 or Niacin is an important vitamin of the B group and is essential for the synthesis of sex harmones and a healthy nervous system. It acts as a detoxificant, ridding the body of toxins, pollutants, and drugs. 

Role in the Body

Niacin plays an important role in blood circulation system and the nervous system. This vitamin is essential for synthesis of the sex hormones- oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone and also cortisone, thyroxin, and insulin. As mentioned it detoxifies the body. May lower cholesterol and protect against heart diseases. Maintains healthy skin, nerves, tongue, and digestion.

Sources.

Liver, lean meats, peanuts, eggs, fish, prawns are better sources of Niacin than plant products. Whole grains, cow’s milk, rice bran, rice, wheat, groundnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds are the other sources.

Deficiency Symptoms

A mild deficiency of Niacin may result in a coated tongue, sores in the mouth, irritability, nervousness, skin lesions, diarrhea, forgetfulness, insomnia, chronic headaches, digestive disorders, and anaemia. Severe prolonged deficiency may cause neurasthenia (weakness of the nerves), mental disturbances, depression, and disorientation.

Healing and Therapeutic Properties

Large doses of upto 100 mg of Niacin with each meal, preferably with other B group vitamins, provide tremendous relief in case of pellagra, migraine, headaches, high blood pressure caused by nervousness, high blood cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, and diarrhoea.

Niacin has been found useful in treating migraines and high blood pressure brought on by nervousness. 

Toxicity:

In case of high doses it can induce depression, liver malfunction, flushing, severe itching of the skin (pruritis), and gastro-intestinal disturbances.