Niacin

Niacin is better known as vitamin B3. It has many different functions but is particularly well known for maintaining healthy mucous membranes and skin. Since skin is our largest organ, an adequate supply of nutrients is particularly important for you and your children and should not be missing from a balanced diet.

What exactly is niacin?

 

Vitamins are extremely important as they are essential for many bodily functions. However, in most cases your body cannot produce them on its own. The situation is slightly different with niacin. Vitamin B3 generally belongs to the vitamin B complex, which the body can produce itself.

But what is niacin really? Vitamin B3 comes in two forms: as nicotinic acid (vitamin B3) and nicotinamide, an amide of nicotinic acid that the body can convert into niacin. This B vitamin can also come from the amino acid “tryptophan”, which is found in many foods.

The body mainly stores niacin in the liver. The vitamin is involved in maintaining the normal function of the nervous system and normal psychological function and supports the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes. Niacin also helps to reduce fatigue and supports energy metabolism. 

The daily requirement depends on age and gender. The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) gives the following reference values for niacin intake for children and adults:

Vitamin B3 can be produced independently by the body from the amino acid “tryptophane”. However, to cover your and your children’s daily requirements, you should also take vitamin B3 in your diet. People who eat a balanced diet and therefore lead a relatively healthy life can cover their daily requirements relatively easily.

Compared to other vitamins, niacin is relatively resistant to heat or prolonged storage. However, it is water-soluble, which is why a certain amount is released into the water when vegetables are cooked, for example. Many foods contain niacin. However, your body can process vitamin B3 from animal foods much better than from plant sources. In addition, the concentration of niacin is usually higher in animal foods.