Vitamin B3 is the nutritional category including nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, compounds the body can use to make nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. These coenzymes participate in metabolism, including transfer of reducing equivalents between reactions. Adequate dietary supply supports a reusable biochemical system rather than providing the bulk of the body's fuel.[ref]
Niacin Fact Sheet for Health Professionals by the Office of Dietary Supplements. Introduction: niacin forms, NAD/NADP and metabolic roles
For example, an oxidized coenzyme can accept reducing equivalents in one reaction and transfer them in another. The coenzyme is regenerated during the cycle, so its importance is not measured by how much of it is burned for energy. Humans can also derive niacin equivalents from tryptophan; severe inadequacy is associated with pellagra.[ref]
Niacin Fact Sheet for Health Professionals by the Office of Dietary Supplements. Introduction and Niacin Deficiency: tryptophan contribution and pellagra
Pellagra is a disease caused by severe vitamin B3 deficiency. Its manifestations can include sun-sensitive dermatitis, diarrhea and neurological changes, including dementia. These familiar “three Ds” summarize possible effects; they are not a requirement that every affected person show all three. Vitamin B3 supplies precursors of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, so adequate dietary energy alone does not guarantee adequate support for metabolism.[ref]
Niacin Fact Sheet for Health Professionals by the Office of Dietary Supplements. Introduction and Niacin Deficiency
In 1915, Joseph Goldberger and G. A. Wheeler tested a restricted, cereal-heavy diet at a Mississippi prison farm. At least six of eleven remaining volunteers developed signs judged to be pellagra within five months; none were observed among the comparison prisoners. The reported menu supplied about 2,952 calories per man per day, making the contrast between calories and dietary composition especially revealing. Prisoners were offered pardons for participation; allocation was not described as randomized.[ref]
Experimental Pellagra in the Human Subject Brought About by a Restricted Diet by Joseph Goldberger and G. A. Wheeler. pp.3336–3339, Experiment, Controls, Results and Conclusion
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