Niacin Fact Sheet for Consumers

What is niacin and what does it do?

Niacin (also called vitamin B3) helps turn the food you eat into the energy you need.
Niacin is important for the development and function of the cells in your body.
How much niacin do I need?
The amount of niacin you need depends on your age and sex. Average daily
recommended amounts are listed below in milligrams (mg) of niacin equivalents
(NE) (except for infants in their first 6 months).
The mg NE measure is used because your body can also make niacin from
tryptophan, an amino acid in proteins. For example, when you eat turkey, which
is high in tryptophan, some of this amino acid is converted to niacin in your liver.
Using mg NE accounts for both the niacin you consume and the niacin your
body makes from tryptophan. Infants in their first six months do not make much
niacin from tryptophan.
Life Stage Recommended Amount
Turkey is rich in niacin, which is
Birth to 6 months 2 mg
important for the development
Infants 7–12 months 4 mg NE
and function of cells in your body.
Children 1–3 years 6 mg NE
Children 4–8 years 8 mg NE
Children 9–13 years 12 mg NE
Teens boys 14–18 years 16 mg NE
Teens girls 14–18 years 14 mg NE
Adult men 19+ years 16 mg NE
Adult women 19+ years 14 mg NE
Pregnant teens and women 18 mg NE
Breastfeeding teens and women 17 mg NE

What foods provide niacin?

Niacin is found naturally in many foods, and is added to some foods. You can
get recommended amounts of niacin by eating a variety of foods, including
the following:
• Animal foods, such as poultry, beef, pork, and fish
• Some types of nuts, legumes, and grains
• Enriched and fortified foods, such as many breads and cereals
What kinds of niacin dietary supplements are available?
Niacin is found in multivitamin/multimineral supplements. It is also available in
B-complex dietary supplements and supplements containing only niacin. The two
2 • NIACIN FACT SHEET FOR CONSUMERS

main forms of niacin in dietary supplements are nicotinic acid recommended dietary allowance) can lower blood levels of
and nicotinamide. LDL (bad) cholesterol, raise levels of HDL (good) cholesterol,
Niacin (in the form of nicotinic acid) is also available as a pre- and lower levels of triglycerides. But these favorable effects
scription medicine used to treat high blood cholesterol levels. on blood lipids (fats) don’t affect the risk of having a
cardiovascular event, such as heart attack, sudden cardiac
Am I getting enough niacin? death, or stroke. In addition, experts do not recommend high
Most people in the United States get enough niacin from the doses of nicotinic acid for people taking a statin medication.
foods they eat. Niacin deficiency is very rare in the United
Your healthcare provider should approve and supervise any
States. However, some people are more likely than others to
use of very high doses of nicotinic acid (in the thousands of
have trouble getting enough niacin:
milligrams) to treat atherosclerosis.
• Undernourished people with AIDS, alcohol use disorder,
anorexia, inflammatory bowel disease, or liver cirrhosis Can niacin be harmful?
The niacin that food naturally contains is safe. However,
• People whose diet has too little iron, riboflavin, or vitamin
dietary supplements with 30 mg or more of nicotinic acid can
B6; these nutrients are needed to convert tryptophan
make the skin on your face, arms, and chest turn red and burn,
to niacin
tingle, and itch. These symptoms can also lead to headaches,
• People with Hartnup disease, a rare genetic disorder
rashes, and dizziness.
• People with carcinoid syndrome, a condition in which slow-
If you take nicotinic acid as a medication in doses of
growing tumors develop in the gastrointestinal tract
1,000 or more mg/day, it can cause more severe side effects.
What happens if I don’t get enough niacin? These include:
You can develop niacin deficiency if you don’t get enough • Low blood pressure (which can increase the risk of falls)
niacin or tryptophan from the foods you eat. Severe niacin
• Extreme tiredness
deficiency leads to a disease called pellagra. Pellagra, which is
uncommon in developed countries, can have these effects: • High blood sugar levels

• Rough skin that turns red or brown in the sun • Nausea, heartburn, and abdominal pain

• A bright red tongue • Blurred or impaired vision and fluid buildup in the eyes

• Vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea Long-term treatment, especially with extended-release forms

of nicotinic acid, can cause liver problems, including hepatitis
• Depression
and liver failure.
• Headaches
Niacin in the form of nicotinamide has fewer side effects
• Extreme tiredness than nicotinic acid. However, at high doses of 500 mg/day or
• Aggressive, paranoid, or suicidal behavior more, nicotinamide can cause diarrhea, easy bruising, and can
• Hallucinations, apathy, loss of memory increase bleeding from wounds. Even higher doses of 3,000
mg/day or more can cause nausea, vomiting, and liver damage.
In its final stages, pellagra leads to loss of appetite followed
by death. The daily upper limits for niacin from dietary supplements are
listed below.
What are some effects of niacin on health?
Ages Upper Limit
Scientists are studying niacin to better understand how it affects
Birth to 12 months Not established
health. Here is an example of what this research has shown.
Children 1–3 years 10 mg
Cardiovascular disease
Children 4–8 years 15 mg
Scientists have studied the use of large doses of niacin in the
Children 9–13 years 20 mg
form of nicotinic acid to help reduce the risk of heart attack
Teens 14–18 years 30 mg
and stroke in people with atherosclerosis. They found that
Adults 19+ years 35 mg
prescription-strength nicotinic acid (more than 100 times the
3 • NIACIN FACT SHEET FOR CONSUMERS

Are there any interactions with niacin Where can I find out more about Niacin?
that I should know about? For general information on Niacin:
Niacin dietary supplements can interact or interfere with • Office of Dietary Supplements Health Professional Fact
certain medicines that you take, and some medicines can lower Sheet on Niacin
niacin levels in your body. Here are some examples:
For more information on food sources of Niacin:
• Tuberculosis drugs (such as isoniazid and pyrazinamide) • Office of Dietary Supplements Health Professional Fact
interfere with the body’s ability to convert tryptophan to Sheet on Niacin
niacin. This interference can lower niacin levels in your body. • U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Nutrient
• High doses of nicotinic acid (1,500 mg/day or more) can Database
raise blood sugar levels and interfere with the effectiveness of • Nutrient List for niacin (listed by food or by nutrient
diabetes medications. These doses can even raise blood sugar content), USDA
levels in people who don’t have diabetes. For more advice on buying dietary supplements:
Tell your doctor, pharmacist, and other healthcare providers • Office of Dietary Supplements Frequently Asked Questions:
about any dietary supplements and prescription or over-the- Which brand(s) of dietary supplements should I purchase?
counter medicines you take. They can tell you if the dietary For information about building a healthy diet:
supplements might interact with your medicines. They can • ChooseMyPlate
also tell you if the medicines might interfere with how your • Dietary Guidelines for Americans
body absorbs, uses, or breaks down niacin and other nutrients.
Disclaimer
Niacin and Healthful Eating This fact sheet by the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
People should get most of their nutrients from food and provides information that should not take the place of medical
beverages, according to the federal government’s Dietary advice. We encourage you to talk to your healthcare providers
Guidelines for Americans. Foods contain vitamins, minerals, (doctor, registered dietitian, pharmacist, etc.) about your
dietary fiber and other substances that benefit health. In some interest in, questions about, or use of dietary supplements
cases, fortified foods and dietary supplements may provide and what may be best for your overall health. Any mention
nutrients that otherwise may be consumed in less-than- in this publication of a specific product or service, or
recommended amounts. For more information about building recommendation from an organization or professional society,
a healthy diet, refer to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and does not represent an endorsement by ODS of that product,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate. service, or expert advice.

For more information on this and other supplements, please visit our
Web site at: http://ods.od.nih.gov or e-mail us at: ods@nih.gov
Updated: February 1, 2019