Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is an important nutrient for brain health. It is a key nutrient for the mitochondria, which are the engine of brain cells. The mitochondria convert the energy stored in the sugar into energy that the cell can use to do work in the form of ATP. An ample supply of niacinamide makes ATP generation more efficient and reduces the level of toxic free radicals (a byproduct of ATP production).

Vitamin B3 or Niacinamide has been shown to be beneficial in several autoimmune diseases. Nearly fifty years ago, Dr. Kaufman used niacinamide to successfully reduce symptoms and improve function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis more than fifty years ago. Twenty years ago, Yamada reported that niacinamide reduces the severity and can even reverse early type 1 diabetes in mice. In 2006, Kaneko reported that the use of niacinamide was effective in preventing and reducing the severity of existing disease in the animal model of multiple sclerosis. However, no human studies have been published using niacinamide to treat or prevent MS.

How is vitamin B3 obtained? It is possible to take vitamin B3 in supplement form. Niacin (a form of vitamin B3) has often been given to treat patients with low HDL cholesterol (good or protective cholesterol) and has been associated with flushing, headache, and liver abnormalities at very high doses. Niacinamide, another form of vitamin B3, has far fewer side effects, even at high doses. Food sources include tuna, salmon, liver and other organ meats, mushrooms, and nutritional yeast.

In general, obtaining nutrients through food is superior to the use of supplements. First, the body is unlikely to absorb toxic levels of the nutrient. In addition, when whole foods are eaten, additional micronutrients are often present that are beneficial to the body. Our understanding of clinical nutrition is still primitive. There are thousands of other useful micronutrients that have not been identified.

What doses have been used? The mouse study that showed reversal of the animal model of MS used 0.5 mg per kilogram. The niacin version of B3 has been used in doses between 500 and 5,000 mg to treat cholesterol and rheumatoid arthritis. However, due to the potential for problems with high doses (greater than 500 mg), it is important to have liver function monitored by a doctor using blood tests. The doses that have been used to treat high cholesterol are likely to be an acceptable dose range when it comes to reducing the severity or preventing the onset of MS symptoms.

Bottom line
Vitamin B3 in the form of niacinamide is a very important nutrient for brain health. The best food sources are wheat germ, mushrooms, organ meats, tuna, and salmon. Supplements are another option. Doses greater than 500 mg per day should be supervised by a doctor. Other conditions have been treated with doses as high as 5 grams per day.