Nicotinamide

Nicotinamide (niacinamide) is a form of vitamin B3 (niacin). Nicotinamide, (/ˌnɪkəˈtɪnəmaɪd/) also known as niacinamide, NAA, and nicotinic amide, is the amide of nicotinic acid (niacin). Nicotinamide is a water-soluble B vitamin.

Nicotinic acid is converted to nicotinamide in vivo, and, though the two are identical in their vitamin functions, nicotinamide does not have the same pharmacological and toxic effects as niacin, which occurs incidental to niacin's conversion. Nicotinamide does not reduce cholesterol or cause flushing, although it may be toxic to the liver at doses exceeding 3g/day in adults. In cells, niacin is incorporated into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), although the pathways for nicotinic acid amide and nicotinic acid are very similar. NAD+ and NADP+ are coenzymes in a wide variety of enzymatic oxidation-reduction reactions. Commercial production of niacin and niacinamide (several thousand tons annually) is by hydrolysis or aminolysis of 3-cyanopyridine (nicotinonitrile).

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is one known cause of nicotinamide deficiency.

Niacinamide flush-free supports the mitochondrial function. Nicotinamide riboside improves the energy metabolism and neuroprotection.

It seems that it also works against multi-drug resistant germs.

Evidence

• 2016, Treatment with the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR) rejuvenates stem cells, allowing better regeneration processes in aged mice. Beneficial for mitochondria, muscle stem cells, neural stem cells, melanocyte stem cells, and increased lifespan.

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It is used in the ME/CFS treatment regime of patient Katrina Voss:

• My antiretroviral Regime for Antiretroviral Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (Deutsch: #Arztanfragen - Mein Therapieregime für die antiretrovirale Behandlung bei Myalgischer Enzephalomyelitis)