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Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, is actually made up of niacin (nicotinic acid) and niacinamide. It is a water-soluble nutrient that is part of the B vitamin family. B vitamins help to support adrenal function, to calm and maintain a healthy nervous system, and are necessary for key metabolic processes. Niacin is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats.

Why is vitamin B3 necessary?
Niacin's reduces the risk of heart disease and lowers harmful cholesterol while raising good cholesterol. Niacin may also reduce the incidence of asthma-induced wheezing, and may be helpful in treating or preventing atherosclerosis, second heart attacks,Alzheimer's disease and osteoarthritis.

What are the signs of a deficiency?
Pellagra is a nutritional disease that develops due to insufficient dietary amounts of vitamin B3. Symptoms of pellagra include skin disease, diarrhea, dementia and depression.

How much, and what kind, does an adult need?
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for adults is between 16 and 18 mg daily, with a maximum intake of 35 mg daily. It is recommended that pregnant or breastfeeding women avoid supplemental niacin. Dr. Talebi recommends taking 50 mg of B3 as niacinamide as part of a B-complex that contains a full spectrum of B vitamins, including thiamine, B12 and riboflavin.