Overview
What is nicotinamide?
What are nicotinamide’s main benefits?
What are nicotinamide’s main drawbacks?
How does nicotinamide work?
Dosage information
Formulation
Nicotinamide supplements are available in a variety of oral preparations, including tablets and capsules, and are commonly marketed as “no-flush niacin”.
Topical skincare formulations include creams, gels, lotions, and more. In skincare, nicotinamide is more commonly referred to as niacinamide.
Range of dosages studied
Oral nicotinamide supplements have been studied at daily doses ranging from 25 mg to 6,000 mg (6 grams) for up to 5 years.
Topical nicotinamide has been studied for skin health at concentrations ranging from 1% to 5% for up to 12 weeks.
For treating pellagra (a severe vitamin B3 deficiency), 300 mg daily of nicotinamide is usually sufficient.[1]
Other considerations
The niacin recommended dietary allowance (RDA) is the minimum amount of niacin that should be consumed to prevent a deficiency. This can include any form of vitamin B3, such as nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, or nicotinamide riboside. The niacin RDA is given in niacin equivalents to allow for the inclusion of dietary tryptophan, which can be converted into niacin.[2]
Niacin RDA
| AGE | MALE | FEMALE | PREGNANT | LACTATING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 months | 2 mg* | 2 mg* | — | — |
| 7–12 months | 4 mg NE | 4 mg NE | — | — |
| 1–3 years | 6 mg NE | 6 mg NE | — | — |
| 4–8 years | 8 mg NE | 8 mg NE | — | — |
| 9–13 years | 12 mg NE | 12 mg NE | — | — |
| 14–18 years | 16 mg NE | 14 mg NE | 18 mg NE | 17 mg NE |
| 19+ years | 16 mg NE | 14 mg NE | 18 mg NE | 17 mg NE |
NE, niacin equivalent: 1 mg NE = 1 mg niacin = 60 mg tryptophan
* Adequate intake (AI)
Reference: Institute of Medicine. Niacin (chapter 6 of Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. The National Academies Press. 1998. DOI: 10.17226/6015)
