OTC Pearl of the Day: Vitamin B3

OTC/Lifestyle Pearl of the Day: Vitamin B3

Indication: Niacin is a B vitamin (B3) that is made and used by your body to turn food into energy. It helps keep the nervous system, digestive system, and skin healthy.

Insight:

• Foods rich in niacin include yeast, milk, meat, tortillas, and cereal grains.
• Patients use prescription niacin (Niacor, Niaspan) to help control their cholesterol.
• The recommended daily amount of niacin for adult males is 16 mg per day and 14 mg per day for adult women who aren't pregnant.
• High cholesterol: Prescription niacin is used to increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol that helps remove low-density lipoprotein, the "bad" cholesterol, from your bloodstream.
• Niacin deficiency (pellagra). Niacin and a related nutrient called niacinamide are used to treat or prevent niacin deficiency.
• Niacin may interact with alcohol, allopurinol (Zyloprim), anticoagulant and anti-platelet drugs, blood pressure drugs, chromium, diabetes drugs, hepatotoxic drugs, herbs and supplements, statins, and zinc.

Sources:

• Niacin - Mayo Clinic
• Nature Made Niacin, Flush-Free, 500 mg, Liquid Softgels, 60 softgels | Rite Aid