Niacin is also known as vitamin B3 and plays a crucial part in metabolizing energy and the repair of living cells and DNA. Natural sources of niacin include liver, beef, chicken, fish, milk, eggs, vegetables, broccoli, tomatoes, dates, avocadoes, nuts, legumes, and brewer's yeast.

Pellagra can be caused when there is a serious lack of deficiency of niacin and a mild deficiency can affect the tolerance of cold since the metabolism can be slowed down. On the other end of the scale, if one is extremely exposed to over dosage, it can cause maculopathy, which can lead to blurred vision or even blindness. Overdosing on a milder scale if taken regularly can cause hot flushes lasting between 10 to 30 minutes.

When scientists were experimenting with nicotine, they discovered nicotinic acid. When this happened, it was discussed to change them name since people might associate nicotine from cigarettes to have healthy vitamins in them or that healthy foods may have nicotine in them. It was then that the term niacin was chosen.

Synthesis of this vitamin does take place in humans livers but it is an extremely slow process. Alkali lime is a good source of niacin and is found in whole grains. Saying that, areas that eat a lot of low grain corn that do not contain alkali lime, tend to suffer various degrees of niacin deficiency. It also plays a key role in the adrenal gland associated with sex and stress hormones and is vital for removing harmful chemicals and toxins from the body.

Niacin, if taken in large doses, helps create good cholesterol in the blood. The down side is the effect on the skin i.e. hot flushes tend to occur in humans. More research into this phase is being done to see what can be achieved to prevent this.

Although high doses of niacin do not seem harmful, the high dosage should be reached gradually. In some parts of the world it is used to improve the color of ground meat. This is achieved when some of the compounds are mixed together. It is therefore used as a type of coloring agent, which is a natural alternative to the artificial colors available.

Nowadays it is very common to see niacin in other manufactured products. Apart from obvious capsules that are there for supplementary purposes, there exist many other products such as niacin-enriched grains and other foods. These are helpful because natural sources of niacin are crucial, but cooking it in any fashion destroys the goodness of it. It is therefore important that enriched foods exist so humans can still acquire their RDA of niacin.

Used for medicinal and health benefits, it shows how much it has become part of our lives. It is recommended to take a certain amount of vitamins and minerals everyday to help our immune system stay working at 100%. It is also advised not to overdose on certain vitamins and minerals as they may cause serious side effects and affect certain bodily processes.

If you are unsure about taking supplements, contact your doctor or pharmacist. He or she can advise you on the best plan of action and give you more information about specific vitamins and minerals. It is advised to seek consultation especially if you are pregnant or currently taking any medication as this can affect the intake of supplements. Go to a registered pharmacy and make sure you read all the instructions on dosage and follow them strictly. More information can be found on the Internet too.