Niacinamide - What is it & How to use

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

The effectiveness ratings for NIACINAMIDE are as follows:

Likely effective for…

• Treatment and prevention of niacin deficiency, and certain conditions related to niacin deficiency such as pellagra. . Niacinamide is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for these uses. Niacinamide is sometimes preferred over niacin because it does not cause “flushing,” (redness, itching and tingling), a side effect of niacin treatment.

Possibly effective for…

• Acne. Early research shows that taking tablets containing niacinamide and other ingredients for 8 weeks improves skin appearance in people with acne. Other research shows that applying a cream containing niacinamide improves the appearance of skin in people with acne.
• Diabetes. Some research shows that taking niacinamide might help prevent the loss of insulin production in children and adults at risk for type 1 diabetes. It might also prevent the loss of insulin production and reduce the dose of insulin needed by children recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. However, niacinamide does not seem to prevent the development of type 1 diabetes in at-risk children. In people with type 2 diabetes, niacinamide seems to help protect insulin production and improve blood sugar control.
• High levels of phosphate in the blood (hyperphosphatemia). High blood levels of phosphate can be caused by reduced kidney function. In people with kidney dysfunction who have high levels of blood phosphate, taking niacinamide seems to help decrease phosphate levels when taken with or without phosphate binders.
• Cancer of the larynx. Research shows that taking niacinamide while receiving radiotherapy and a type of treatment called carbogen might help control tumor growth and increase survival in some people with cancer of the larynx. Taking niacinamide while receiving radiotherapy and carbogen seems to benefit people with cancer of the larynx who are also anemic. It also seems to help people who have tumors that are deprived of oxygen.
• Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Taking niacinamide seems to help prevent new skin cancer or precancerous spots (actinic keratosis) from forming in people with a history of skin cancer or actinic keratosis.
• Osteoarthritis. Taking niacinamide seems to improve joint flexibility and reduce pain and swelling in people with osteoarthritis. Also, some people with osteoarthritis who take niacinamide might need to take less painkilling medications.

Possibly ineffective for…

• Brain tumor. Early research shows that treating people with surgically removed brain tumors with niacinamide, radiotherapy, and carbogen does not improve survival compared to radiotherapy or radiotherapy and carbogen.
• Bladder cancer. Treating people with bladder cancer with niacinamide, radiotherapy, and carbogen does not appear to decrease tumor growth or improve survival compared to radiotherapy or radiotherapy and carbogen.

Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for…

• Age-related vision loss due to retina damage. Early research suggests that taking niacinamide, vitamin E, and lutein for a year improves how well the retina works in people with age-related vision loss due to retina damage.
• Aging skin. Early research shows that taking niacinamide, vitamin E, and lutein for almost a year improves how well the retina works in people with age-related vision loss due to retina damage.
• Eczema. Early research shows that applying cream containing 2% niacinamide decreases water loss and improves hydration, and reduces redness and scaling, in people with eczema.
• Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There is conflicting evidence regarding the usefulness of niacinamide in combination with other vitamins for the treatment of ADHD.
• Itchy skin in people with kidney disease (chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus). Early research shows that taking niacinamide does not help reduce itchiness in people with kidney disease.
• Patches of skin that have darkened. Early research shows that applying moisturizer containing 5% niacinamide or 2% niacinamide with 2% tranexamic acid for 4-8 weeks helps lighten skin in people with darkened patches of skin.
• A type of cancer of white blood cells called lymphoma. Early research shows that taking niacinamide as part of treatment with a drug called vorinostat might help people with lymphoma go in to remission.
• A skin condition called rosacea. Early research shows that taking tablets containing niacinamide and other ingredients for 8 weeks improves skin appearance in people with rosacea.
• A skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis. Early research shows that applying a cream containing 4% niacinamide can reduce redness and scaling of the skin in people with seborrheic dermatitis.
• Alcohol dependence.
• Alzheimer’s disease and age-related mental decline.
• Arthritis.
• Depression.
• High blood pressure.
• Motion sickness.
• Premenstrual headache.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate niacin and niacinamide for these uses.