Niacin

Category: vitamin

Aliases: Vitamin B3, Nicotinic acid, Pyridine-3-carboxylic acid

Pharmacological Mechanism

Precursor to NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ (via the de-novo Preiss-Handler pathway or NAMPT-mediated salvage from nicotinamide riboside/NMN). At pharmacologic doses (≥500 mg), activates the HCA2 (GPR109A) receptor on adipocytes → lowers lipolysis and FFA flux → reduces VLDL/LDL and raises HDL. The same receptor triggers the characteristic cutaneous flush via prostaglandin D2 release.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 0.9h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 14.7mg (Range: 14 - 16 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• cardiovascular
• integumentary

Interactions

• NMN