Niacinamide
Vitamin ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Niacinamide is the amide form of vitamin B3 and a precursor for NAD and NADP coenzymes. Unlike nicotinic acid, it generally does not cause flushing and does not reliably lower lipids. Oral niacinamide is useful for vitamin B3 adequacy and has clinical evidence in selected dermatology contexts, but high doses can still cause adverse effects and should not be treated as risk-free.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
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This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Niacinamide is a vitamin most often used for supports vitamin b3 status and nad coenzyme pools, does not cause typical niacin flushing, used in dermatology for skin barrier and selected photodamage contexts. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate. A typical adult dose is 100-500 mg/day for general supplementation; 500 mg twice daily has been studied for selected skin-cancer prevention contexts under clinician guidance, commonly taken as plain niacinamide capsule or tablet, not high-dose niacin unless specifically indicated. This profile indexes 3 sources.
- Nausea or stomach upset
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Active liver disease unless clinician-directed
- Use of high-dose B3 products without medical supervision2
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: supports vitamin b3 status and nad coenzyme pools, does not cause typical niacin flushing, used in dermatology for skin barrier and selected photodamage contexts. 3 sources indexed (2004–2024), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Niacinamide enters the NAD salvage pathway and supports formation of NAD and NADP, which are required for redox metabolism, DNA repair, and cellular stress responses. It does not activate the nicotinic acid receptor strongly, explaining its lack of flushing and lack of classic niacin lipid effects. At pharmacologic doses it can influence PARP activity, inflammatory signaling, and skin immune responses, but excessive dosing may burden hepatic metabolism.3
Dosing & protocol.
Water-soluble and well absorbed. Taking with food can reduce nausea; avoid combining multiple high-dose B3 products without checking total intake.2
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Niacinamide capsule.
Plain niacinamide is inexpensive; branded NAD blends cost more without necessarily adding outcome evidence. Updated 2026-06-04.
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- Nausea or stomach upset
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Liver enzyme elevation at high doses
- Possible worsening insulin resistance at pharmacologic doses
Contraindications
- Active liver disease unless clinician-directed
- Use of high-dose B3 products without medical supervision2
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding above prenatal-level intakes unless clinician-directed
- History of severe adverse reaction to niacinamide
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Randomized controlled trials
2- 1A Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Nicotinamide for Skin-Cancer ChemopreventionChen AC et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 2015
Nicotinamide 500 mg twice daily reduced new nonmelanoma skin cancers during treatment in high-risk adults.
- 2Intervention with nicotinamide to prevent type 1 diabetes mellitus: the European Nicotinamide Diabetes Intervention Trial (ENDIT): a randomised controlled trialGale EA et al. · Lancet · 2004
High-dose nicotinamide did not reduce type 1 diabetes development in antibody-positive relatives.
Reference material
1- 3Niacin Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsNational Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements · NIH Office of Dietary Supplements · 2024
NIH summarizes vitamin B3 forms, deficiency, dietary sources, dosing limits, and safety concerns.
Common questions.
Quick answers about Niacinamide, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is the amide form of vitamin B3 and a precursor for NAD and NADP coenzymes. Unlike nicotinic acid, it generally does not cause flushing and does not reliably lower lipids. Oral niacinamide is useful for vitamin B3 adequacy and has clinical evidence in selected dermatology contexts, but high doses can still cause adverse effects and should not be treated as risk-free.
What is Niacinamide used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Niacinamide include: Supports vitamin B3 status and NAD coenzyme pools; Does not cause typical niacin flushing; Used in dermatology for skin barrier and selected photodamage contexts; Prevents pellagra when vitamin B3 intake is inadequate. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.
What is a typical dose of Niacinamide?
A typical adult dose of Niacinamide is 100-500 mg/day for general supplementation; 500 mg twice daily has been studied for selected skin-cancer prevention contexts under clinician guidance. The commonly recommended form is Plain niacinamide capsule or tablet, not high-dose niacin unless specifically indicated. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Niacinamide?
Reported side effects include nausea or stomach upset, headache, fatigue, liver enzyme elevation at high doses, possible worsening insulin resistance at pharmacologic doses. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Niacinamide?
NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Niacinamide in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.