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Niacin, also known as vitamin B3 and nicotinic acid, is an organic compound with the formula C 6H 5NO2 and, depending on the definition used, one of the 20 to 80 essential human nutrients.

Pharmaceutical and supplemental niacin are primarily used to treat hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) and pellagra (niacin deficiency). Insufficient niacin in the diet can cause nausea, skin and mouth lesions, anemia, headaches, and tiredness. The lack of niacin may also be observed in pandemic deficiency disease, which is caused by a lack of five crucial vitamins (niacin, vitamin C, thiamin, vitamin D, and vitamin A) and is usually found in areas of widespread poverty and malnutrition. Niacin is provided in the diet from a variety of whole and processed foods,  and meat from various animal sources.

This colorless, water-soluble solid is a derivative of pyridine, with a carboxyl group (COOH) at the 3-position. Other forms of vitamin B3 include the corresponding amide nicotinamide ("niacinamide"), where the carboxyl group has been replaced by a carboxamide group (CONH
2), as well as more complex amides and a variety of esters. Nicotinic acid and niacinamide are convertible to each other with steady world demand rising from 8,500 tonnes per year in the 1980s to 40,000 in recent years.

Most common Niacin side effects from eHealthme

• Nausea - (513 reports)
• Fatigue - (483 reports)
• Weakness - (465 reports)
• Dizziness - (425 reports)
• Chest pain - (418 reports)
• Pain - (414 reports)
• Diarrhea - (375 reports)
• Drug ineffective - (371 reports)
• Breathing difficulty - (358 reports)
• Rashes - (349 reports)

On Jan, 27, 2017  6,577 people reported to have side effects when taking Niacin.
Among them, 106 people (1.61%) have Death

On Feb, 07, 2017  6,577 people reported to have side effects when taking Niacin.
Among them, 31 people (0.47%) have Hallucination

On Feb, 07, 2017  6,577 people reported to have side effects when taking Niacin.
Among them, 5 people (0.08%) have Hallucination, Auditory