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When to consume vitamin B3 and what is it for?

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Vitamins and nutrients are essential for the health of the body, and among them is the vitamin B3, known as niacin. And while the risk of its deficiency is low, it could have extremely serious consequences.

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It is known that selecting the file correctly food that we are going to add to our daily diet, accompanied by changes in habits, they explain from the site Mayo Clinic, a non-profit organization dedicated to clinical practice, education and research.

Vitamin B3, or niacin, in foods or supplements.

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Vitamin B3, or niacin, in foods or supplements.
Niacin raises good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers bad cholesterol (LDL).

Niacin raises good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers bad cholesterol (LDL).

And it indicates among its main functions that of helping the functioning of the digestive system, skin and nerves. It is also important for turning food into energy.

When taken as a prescription drug in larger doses, it can help increase HDL (good) cholesterol, lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceridesanother type of fat found in the blood.

In this sense, for example, improving cholesterol levels can help protect against heart disease, heart attack or stroke.

Foods that contain vitamin B3 or niacin

Vitamin B3 is found in numerous foods, listed on health sites. Some of them are as follows:

Fish, red meat, chicken and eggs contain vitamin B3.

Fish, red meat, chicken and eggs contain vitamin B3.
  • Fish
  • lean meats
  • Poultry
  • Milk
  • Egg
  • integrated cereals
  • Legumes
  • Peanuts
Peanuts, dried fruit with vitamin B3.

Peanuts, dried fruit with vitamin B3.

How Much Vitamin B3 To Consume For Good Health

Recommendations for niacin and other nutrients are provided in Dietary Reference Intakes (RDI)developed by the Committee on Food and Nutrition at the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

These values, details MedlinePluswhich vary by age and gender, include:

Babies from 0 to 6 months, only 2 mg of vitamin B3 per day.  Illustrative photo: Shutterstock.

Babies from 0 to 6 months, only 2 mg of vitamin B3 per day. Illustrative photo: Shutterstock.
  • You drink
  • 0 to 6 months: 2 milligrams/day (mg/day)
  • From 7 to 12 months: 4 mg/day
  • Children
  • From 1 to 3 years: 6 mg/day
  • From 4 to 8 years: 8 mg/day
  • From 9 to 13 years: 12 mg/day
  • teenagers and adults
  • Males 14 years and older: 16 mg/day
  • Women 14 years and older: 14 mg/day, 18 mg/day during pregnancy, 17 mg/day during breastfeeding

Symptoms due to vitamin B3 deficiency or excess

“Vitamin B3 can be present as nicotinic acid or nicotinamide, but in foods and supplements it occurs primarily as nicotinamide,” the site explains. Women’s health.

In any case, it will be enough to follow a healthy and varied diet to easily get enough vitamin B3.

Skin disorders, some effects of vitamin B3 deficiency.  Photo: EFE

Skin disorders, some effects of vitamin B3 deficiency. Photo: EFE

What happens otherwise? A vitamin B3 deficiency can cause pellagra: a disease that can cause you skin disorders, diarrhea and dementia.

On the other hand, in high doses of supplements that contain too much nicotinic acid, a dilation of blood vessels.

The same is not true for nicotinamide, but very high doses of nicotinamide can cause it liver and eye damage.

Source: Clarin

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