Abstract: Niacin (vitamin B3) is one of 8 B-complex vitamins. It comes in forms of nicotinic acid, nicotinamide and nicotinamide riboside. Nicotinic acid and nicotinamide have similar solubility in water. Pellagra outbreak in the 19th century preceded the discovery of niacin, a disease caused by a deficit of niacin in the body. A biosynthesis of niacin from tryptophan is possible, but his main role is in the form of \( NAD^{+}\) and \( NADP^{+}\) where it participates in over 400 redox reactions as a coenzyme. Apart from enzymatic reactions, \( NAD^{+}\) participates also as a substrate in many reactions, of which the most important ones being those responsible for DNA repair. Recently, light has been shed on niacin as a drug. In high concentrations it is used as a medicine for lowering high cholesterol in blood, as well as in dermatology as a cure for redness and imperfections of the skin.
Publication Year: 2020
Publication Date: 2020-09-26
Language: en
Type: dissertation
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