Niacin is vitamin B3, formerly often referred to as vitamin PP. The name primarily includes nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. Its history is connected with research on nutrition and discovering why a diet low in specific ingredients does not meet all the body's needs. The similarity of the name nicotinic acid to nicotine does not mean that they are the same compound.
Vitamin and names of its forms
The name niacin refers to compounds related to the activity of vitamin B3, including nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. The label should make it possible to recognize the form used. Vitamin content, material weight and RWS percentage are related but different information. The instructions for one preparation should not be transferred to another solely on the basis of the B3 marking. Cosmetic niacinamide and ingestible supplement also have different purposes.
Meaning and application
Niacin is associated with the formation of NAD and NADP coenzymes, which participate in numerous cellular transformations. It can be found in meat, fish, nuts and grain products; the body can also produce it from tryptophan. Individual forms of niacin have different properties. Niacin equivalents appear on nutrition labels, marked NE. Such marking helps describe its nutritional value and distinguish it from the weight of the raw material used.
In practice
Niacin-related coenzymes participate in many cellular transformations, which is why their description is broader than one energy marketing slogan. The body uses compounds in regulated processes, and increasing the amount of an ingredient does not automatically speed up all reactions. Nicotinic acid and nicotinamide share a common vitamin context, but have different properties. It is worth keeping the exact name of the form and checking the amount in the daily dose. The NE designation is a unit of niacin equivalent and should not be confused with any mass of the entire raw material. The name of the vitamin itself does not determine whether the preparation contains other B vitamins or meets the needs of a specific person.