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Vitamin Guide > Vitamins > Vitamin B3
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Vitamin B3 |
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Vitamin B3 Definition |
Vitamin B3 is also known as Niacin, is a water soluble Vitamin.
It is also known as nicotinic acid. Like other Vitamins, Niacin too plays an important role in the body metabolism.
It can be called the energy provider of our body cells.
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Vitamin B3 Benefits |
Niacin is essential for promoting a healthy nervous system and metabolic functions which are important to produce energy.
It improves blood circulation and also helps the body in carrying out antioxidant and detoxifying functions.
It is also essential for synthesis of hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and insulin.
It is also effective in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood.
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Sources of Vitamin B3 |
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Sources of Niacin are chicken pork, beef, milk, eggs; fruits like custard apple, passion fruit, dried apricots, ripe mangoes; nuts and oilseeds like roasted groundnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, pistachio, cashew nuts, walnuts, cereals, pulses and legumes like soybean, peas, whole Bengal gram, split red gram; vegetables like celery, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, leafy vegetables etc.
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Lack of Vitamin B3 |
Intial signs of niacin deficiency include skin irritation, fatigue, loss of appetite, headaches, nausea and vomiting.
Severe deficiency of niacin results in the disease pellagra, symptoms of which are high sensitivity to light, red skin lesions, weakness, diarrhea, dementia ultimately leading to death.
Deficiency of Niacin is more common in under developed countries.
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Excess of Vitamin B3 |
High dose of Niacin may result in high blood sugar levels, a burning and itchy feeling in the face, neck, arms or chest, can cause liver damage, gastric irritation and abdominal cramps.
It can also cause liver damage, peptic ulcer, low blood pressure.
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Precautions |
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Niacin supplements should not be taken by people with liver disease history or stomach ulcers.
Diabetic patients too should take it under strict medical supervision only.
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