Description

• General description: Nicotinic acid, also referred as Niacin or vitamin B3, is a water soluble vitamin.[1] It is present in vitamin-enriched bread, liver, meat, fish, poultry, potatoes, green vegetables, peanuts and cereals.[2]
• Application: Nicotinic acid has been used as a standard in NAD+ precursor rescue experiments.[3] It has also been used as a vitamin supplement in various culture media such as complete medium (CM)[4] and synthetic medium.[5]
• Biochem/physiol Actions: Nicotinic acid or Niacin regulates lipid metabolism by reducing low density lipoprotein (LDL), increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and by inhibiting the progression of atherosclerosis and coronary artery lesions.[2][6] Niacin deficiency leads to pellagra.[2] In addition to vitamin supplement, niacin is also used as a broad spectrum lipid drug.[7]
• Other Notes: Coenzyme and Cofactors, vol 2: Pyridine Nucleotide Coenzymes[8][9]