Contrary to its name, nicotinic acid has practically nothing to do with nicotine in tobacco products. The first is beneficial to humans, and the second is a dangerous poison, an alkaloid. To avoid confusion in the definitions, we’ll immediately say that nicotinic acid is also called “niacin,” or vitamin PP. What role does this substance play in the body, reviews of nicotinic acid, its use in medicine, cosmetology and sports - you can read below.
How, by whom and for what was opened niacin
For centuries, in countries where the main food is corn grains (Italy, Spain, Argentina), people have suffered from pellagra. To date, scientists have managed to almost completely eradicate this disease. A great contribution to the study of the causes of pellagra was made by the scientists Funk and Goldberger. They allowed the existence of a certain substance that causes disease in people. In addition, in 1914, R.N. Funk noticed that pellagra affected mainly by poor people, in whose diet there was a lot of corn, but milk, meat, and eggs were almost completely absent. It became clear that mainly people who have a certain component in their diet are ill.
In 1937, in the laboratory, nicotinic acid was first synthesized. Since then, a lot of time has passed and today, the usual niacin can be purchased at every pharmacy.
Why is nicotinic acid prescribed?
Doctors prescribe a course of vitamin PP for the following diseases:
- chronic diseases of the liver and gall bladder (cirrhosis, hepatitis of various etiologies, cholecystitis, cholestasis, fatty and other hepatoses);
- osteoarthritis;
- prevention and treatment of pellagra;
- osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine;
- neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer's disease);
- psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne and other skin diseases;
- blood sugar regulation (relevant for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes);
- in violation of lipid metabolism and obesity - to accelerate metabolism;
- maintaining metabolic processes in the cells of the whole organism;
- alopecia (hair loss) of any etiology.
Niacin is available in 3 forms:
- a nicotinic acid,
- nicotinamide
- nositol hexaniacinate.
Nicotinic acid is available in tablets and ampoules for intramuscular administration. You can buy at any pharmacy, the cost is low - about 100 rubles per package with a full course of the drug. The method of administration of nicotinic acid (oral or injectable) depends on the personal preferences of the patient. Many adults continue to be afraid of injections, so they often prefer the tablet form (which, incidentally, is more toxic to the liver).
Niacin belongs to the list of drugs for the purchase of which it is not necessary to have a prescription. However, it is better not to engage in self-medication.
Why was this acid called nicotinic?
Niacin can be called differently and any of these names will mean the same substance:
- a nicotinic acid;
- vitamin PP;
- vitamin B3.
This acid is officially a drug (unlike other vitamins from group B) and is actively involved in metabolic processes.
Nicotinic acid and nicotine are completely different substances with different molecular structures. Nicotine is a poison, an alkaloid, while nicotinic acid is a vitamin.
The name PP means "anti-pellagric." This substance is able to quickly cure a disease called pellagra (one of the varieties of vitamin deficiency disease, a deficiency of nicotinic acid).
Side effects
Do not forget that any medication has contraindications. If the instructions recommended for nicotinic acid are not followed, then the following side effects may occur:
- itching of the skin, redness, tingling in the hands, wrists, forearm, face, neck, ears, upper back (this is due to a rush of blood to the upper body);
- nausea (occurs when the recommended dosage is significantly exceeded);
- headaches and dizziness (occurs only in people prone to migraines);
- deterioration of the gallbladder, stimulating the production of bad cholesterol;
- increased blood levels of AST, LDH, total bilirubin;
- in diabetics, niacin can increase blood sugar.
To prevent the occurrence of side effects, it is necessary to adhere to the instructions for nicotinic acid. The daily need for vitamin B3 for pregnant and lactating women: 19-21 mg, for adults: 25 mg, with heavy physical labor: 30 mg, for children from 1.5 to 7 years - 5 mg; from 7 to 13 years - 10 mg; for young men 14-19 years old - 21 mg; for girls 14-19 years old - 20 mg.
Caution should be used in patients with hemorrhages, with severe arterial hypotension, with glaucoma, liver and kidney failure, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
Effect on the liver
In moderate dosages, vitamin B3 can only be beneficial. However, if the patient has a history of chronic liver disease, it is worth taking nicotinic acid with extreme caution. It even makes sense to reduce its intake to 10 mg per day.
The fact is that nicotinic acid has been used for a long time in the treatment of elevated blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Like statins, Vitamin B3 can cause irreparable damage to the liver. Niacin in some cases causes a moderate increase in asparagine transferase and alanine transferase, which in some cases accompanies the appearance of jaundice, increased liver function, and in rare cases, even acute liver failure.
The toxic effect of nicotinic acid on the liver depends on the method of administration (intramuscularly or orally) and on the dose. Toxic doses start from 1-1.5 grams per day. People with chronic liver diseases are in the group of possible likelihood of developing irreparable toxic effects in case of overdose.
Is it possible to accelerate hair growth using niacin?
What just do not come up with a girl in the fight for a chic head of hair. A few years ago, the Network was full of "miracle reviews" about nicotinic acid, which insisted that after a course of this vitamin their hair began to grow like never before.
In medicine, such cases have indeed been reported. Niacin dilates blood vessels even when applied to the scalp - due to this, the effect of stimulating the work of hair follicles is achieved. But the rate of hair growth is limited by physiology: no matter how you try, whatever you rub into the roots, accelerating hair growth over three centimeters per month is simply impossible.
Many girls are happy to add a vitamin ampoule to a regular mask. This stimulates hair growth and helps strengthen them. Reviews of nicotinic acid for hair are mostly enthusiastic, the effect of it is really good for alopecia.
How do athletes use nicotinic acid?
The use of niacin in bodybuilding is justified. Vitamin PP accelerates the metabolism (which contributes to fat burning and drawing the relief of muscles), improves blood circulation, and in combination with proper nutrition increases anabolism.
Acceptance of high doses of niacin during the period of "drying" in athletes. The hypolipidemic effect of nicotinic acid facilitates and accelerates the process of fat burning, transports the decay products of fat cells for removal from the body.
Nicotinic acid in cosmetology
Many women like to add niacin to masks and homemade creams. Due to the influx of blood, the complexion improves, a slight blush appears, the pores are better cleared. Cosmetic clay masks with a drop of nicotinic acid are popular. Reviews about this procedure are only positive. Having mixed such a mask until a homogeneous consistency, it is necessary to apply it with a thin layer on the skin of the face and leave for 10-15 minutes. As a result, the complexion is leveled, the pores are cleansed.
But nicotinic acid received the most effective use in mesotherapy. Salon mesococtails from cellulite almost all contain niacin. Of course, as an auxiliary component. At home, it’s impossible to do high-quality mesotherapy, so the cosmetic use of nicotinic acid is limited to adding it to face and hair masks.
Intramuscular injection
The drug is made not only in the form of tablets, but also in the form of a 1% injection solution in ampoules of 1 ml. Intramuscular administration of nicotinic acid in ampoules reduces the risk of complications from the urinary system and liver, even at high doses. This method of administration is preferable and safer than tablets.
Neuropathologists recommend combining injections of nicotinic acid with injections of other B vitamins (thiamine, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin, riboflavin). This course has a positive effect on the state of the nervous system, reduces pain in osteochondrosis and arthritis.
Niacin in ampoules is inexpensive - about 100 rubles per pack, in which 10 vials. The manufacturer can be chosen to your taste (Nikoshpan, Enduracin, Vial, Moskhimpharmpreparaty) - they have practically no differences in quality and cost.
Is it possible for myself to inject a nicotinic acid injection course at home? Yes, it is completely safe. It’s better to train yourself to put the drugs under the supervision of a nurse - she will advise how not to touch the vessels when the needle is inserted and to avoid bruising after the injection.
Niacin tablets
Oral administration can provoke an increase in a side effect - itching and redness of the upper body. This is the so-called hyperemia: tingling and burning sensation, redness of the skin. This condition usually goes away half an hour after taking the pill.
To reduce urticaria, doctors recommend taking the pill immediately after eating, assimilation with food is easier and faster.
Reviews of nicotinic acid often biased evaluate this side effect. In fact, there is nothing terrible in it, and it does not carry dangerous consequences for the body, on the contrary, it speaks of the good conductivity of blood vessels.
Why are nicotinic acid tablets prescribed? Indications are the same as for intramuscular administration, but many people are afraid of injections and prefer capsules.
Natural sources of nicotinic acid
It is not necessary to swallow pills or give injections, you can adjust your diet and introduce products on a daily basis, such as:
- unroasted nuts: peanuts, pistachios;
- spices: turmeric, nutmeg, coriander;
- cherry, garden rose, gooseberries;
- broccoli;
- rice and rye bran;
- boiled buckwheat;
- hard natural cheese;
- chicken fillet.
Also, nicotinic acid can be synthesized in the human body independently from the amino acid tryptophan. Which in turn is found in hard cheese and dairy products. So, regardless of whether you take pills, you need to eat fully and varied.
Nicotinic acid and other vitamins - is it possible to combine?
You should correctly combine niacin with thiamine, pyridoxine and magnesium preparations. Being antagonists, these components nullify the effect of each other. The compatibility of nicotinic acid with many vitamins is in question.
For example, the popular drug Magne B6, due to its high pyridoxine content, muffles the action of niacin. The reviews, however, are still positive, because patients often experience severe magnesium deficiency. As a result, some of the components are still absorbed, albeit not completely.
With intramuscular administration, vitamins of group B and niacin should be separated. For example, in the morning do injections of nicotinic acid and cyanocobalamin. And in the evening - thiamine, pyridoxine and riboflavin.