Nicotinamide, also known as niacinamide and nicotinic amide, is the amide of nicotinic
acid.
Nicotinamide is a water-soluble vitamin and is part of the vitamin B group.
Nicotinic acid, also known as niacin, is converted to nicotinamide in vivo, and, though the two
are identical in their vitamin functions, nicotinamide does not have the same pharmacological
and toxic effects of niacin, which occur incidental to niacin's conversion.
Thus nicotinamide does not reduce cholesterol or cause flushing, although nicotinamide may
be toxic to the liver at doses exceeding 3 g/day for adults.
In cells, niacin is incorporated into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide phosphate, although the pathways for nicotinic acid amide and nicotinic acid
are very similar.
NAD+ and NADP+ are coenzymes in a wide variety of enzymatic oxidation-reduction reactions.
It's produced by the aqueous aminolysis of 3-cyanopyridine and subsequent crystallization.
Use in medicine Skin conditions
Nicotinamide has demonstrated anti-inflammatory actions that may be of benefit to patients
with inflammatory skin conditions.
These conditions include acne vulgaris, and the compound can suppress antigen-induced,
lymphocytic transformation and inhibit 3',5'-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase.
Nicotinamide has demonstrated the ability to block the inflammatory actions of iodides
known to precipitate or exacerbate inflammatory acne.
NicAzel and Nicomide are the names of oral acne medications that include nicotinamide
as their most predominant ingredient, based on this area of research.
Nicotinamide is also found as part of a new adjunct supplement combination called, AzerizinTM.
According to the makers of Azerizin, this adjunct is part of their prescription dietary
supplement product, which they claim helps manage inflammatory skin conditions.
Nicotinamide is also used topically as a 4% or 5% gel or cream - as effective as topical
1% clindamycin performed at the New York University College of Medicine.
Unlike topical Erythromycin or Clindamycin it does not precipitate bacterial resistance
in treating inflammatory acne.
Nicotinamide acne treatment is also available as Nicotinamide pads and cream.
Nicotinamide is also reported to be an effective skin whitener in topical application.
Anxiety Studies show that nicotinamide has anxiolytic
properties.
It may work in a way similar to benzodiazepines.
Alzheimer's Disease It is an activator of sirtuins and has been
reported to restore cognition in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice.
A safety study of niacinamide for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is currently underway
at the University of California, Irvine.
Cancer Nicotinamide conflicts as a chemo- and radio-sensitizing
agent/cancer-growth-promoter by enhancing tumor blood flow, thus reducing tumor hypoxia.
Niacinamide also inhibits poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, enzymes involved in the rejoining
of DNA strand breaks induced by radiation or chemotherapy.
PARP-1 appears to be an important target for triple negative breast cancers because the
cells are sensitive to inhibition of PARP-1.
Niacinamide is also used by some patients in combination with intravenous vitamin C
therapy for cancer.
It has also been seen to prevent immunosuppression caused by UVA and UVB radiation.
Apoptosis Nicotinamide can prevent apoptosis in cells
exposed to agents that induce oxidative stress.
Thus nicotinamide prevents apoptosis in human cortical neuronal cells when oxidative stress
is induced by tertiary butylhydroperoxide, and in Jurkat when oxidative stress is induced
by sodium deoxycholate.
Other Nicotinamide reportedly increases the endurance
of mice.
Food Sources Nicotinamide occurs in trace amounts mainly
in meat, fish, nuts, and mushrooms, as well as to a lesser extent in some vegetables.
Toxicity Nicotinamide lacks the vasodilator, gastrointestinal,
hepatic, and hypolipidemic actions of nicotinic acid.
As such, nicotinamide has not been shown to produce the flushing, itching, and burning
sensations of the skin as is commonly seen when large doses of nicotinic acid are administered
orally.
High-dose nicotinamide should still, however, be considered as a drug with toxic potential
at adult doses in excess of 3 g/day and unsupervised use should be discouraged.
Overall, however, it rarely causes side effects, and is considered generally safe as a food
additive, and as a component in cosmetics and medication.
Compendial status British Pharmacopoeia
Japanese Pharmacopoeia See also
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide Isonicotinamide
Notes and references
External links DrugBank.ca Drug Card for Nicotinamide