Does Niacin Work? Everything You Need to Know

Niacin, or nicotinic acid, is a supplemental B vitamin that has long been used to help alleviate the pain and symptoms of arthritis. This supplement has been used for years and is considered a natural way of helping to restore and improve the quality of life for those who struggle with arthritis. 

If you, or a loved one, have been looking for ways to help naturally and organically treat arthritis, then Niacin is something you do not want to overlook. Arthritis isn’t the only thing that niacin has been shown to help improve as it also plays a role in the areas of sleep and even improving memory. Read on for everything from what exactly Niacin is to what niacin benefits can help improve your health. 

What is Niacin?

Niacin is known as vitamin B3 because it is the third B vitamin discovered. In total, there are eight different B vitamins that all play an essential part in helping to maintain your best health. While each vitamin has its unique function, the vitamin B complex is typically associated with naturally increasing your energy, the growth of red blood cells, and other aspects of your system like appetite and natural function.  

This vitamin has a vital role in the body, as it is critical for synthesizing two essential coenzymes. Niacin plays a role in the natural synthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). 

These two coenzymes play a massive role in your body’s biochemistry and are necessary for life. With over 400 different biochemical reactions, these are two of the most important coenzymes that your body produces, and vitamin B is an important part of the synthesis process. Put simply, without vitamin B, your body wouldn’t be able to support everyday life.

How Do You Get Vitamin B3?

Vitamin B3 is an essential vitamin that must be taken in through tour diet as your body cannot produce this vitamin naturally. This vitamin is water-soluble and can be found in various foods. Because it is so important, it makes sense that most food would be able to supply your body with the amount of B3 necessary. 

While it is easy to maintain adequate B3 levels, deficiencies can still occur, and vitamin B3 deficiencies can be fatal if not addressed. 

Niacin On the Circulatory System

Niacin has a specific effect on your body’s cardiovascular system. While it has a wide array of benefits, its impact on the circulatory system is one of its most notable effects. If a person has not built up a tolerance to vitamin B3, it can cause what is known as the flush. 

Helping to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow can have excellent effects on the body, impacting certain conditions like arthritis. 

How Niacin Helps Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most common medical conditions in the United States. Hundreds of millions of people suffer from this condition each day, and it’s increasingly common for people the older they get. Most people are familiar with the tenants of arthritis, associating it with joint pain and discomfort. 

While there are several different kinds of arthritis, one of the ways that you can reduce inflammation and help ease the discomfort of joint pain is by increased circulation. Niacin supplements are an over-the-counter, natural way of helping to relieve discomfort from joint stiffness and pain. 

Niacin Benefits

Because niacin is critical for synthesizing coenzyme NAD and NADP, this vitamin has wide-reaching positive effects on the body. For example, the biochemical reactions of NAD and NADP help with cellular redox and mitochondrial health; they play a significant role in signal pathways and improve energy metabolism. 

Niacin has also been linked to helping improve blood cholesterol and increasing the levels of good cholesterol in the body. It does this by actually blocking an enzyme responsible for making cholesterol in the liver. 

Niacin has also been found to positively impact your body’s natural rest pathways by helping to produce stress-reducing hormones. This can help people feel more relaxed and at peace, which has made it a natural sleep aid for those who struggle with unwinding at the end of the day.

Conclusion 

Taking niacin supplements is a great way to ensure that your body has the necessary vitamin B3 to stay strong and healthy. Not only that, but supplements help to bring you the peace of mind that you are getting what you need without complicating your diet throughout the week.