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Diet
& Nutrition Vitamin
B3
What
is Vitamin B3?
Vitamin B3 (otherwise called 'Niacin') is the name given for nicotinamide
(niacinamide) and nicotinic acid. It's significance was first revealed in
1937 when scientists discovered that the disease 'Pellagra' was caused by
a vitamin B3 deficiency. The amino acid 'Tryptophan' can be converted
inside the human body to vitamin B3.
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Function
- Essential for
releasing energy from carbohydrates, fats and protiens
- Helps DNA synthesis
- Necessary for healthy skin,
nerves and digestive system
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Signs
of deficiency
- Loss of appetite
- Indigestion
- Skin lesions
- Mental imbalance
- Pellagra (gross deficiency)
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Notes
Scientific analyses of vitamin B3 content in foods can underestimate the
true value due to the ability of the body to convert the amino acid
tryptophan into niacin.
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This page was last updated on 25 October 2006 15:44:41
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