Nicotinamide
VitaminForm of vitamin B3; used topically for skin aging and orally for skin cancer prevention and glaucoma
Health Benefits
Health conditions that Nicotinamide may influence, based on research.
Improves
- Skin Aging
Topical 5% nicotinamide: 5% reduction in wrinkles and slowed blotchiness/spots/sallowness; improved skin elasticity; described as one of best studied cosmeceuticals for anti-aging
Source: How Not to Age
- Glaucoma1-3 g/day escalating
RCT: cut risk of further visual field deterioration from 12% to 4% within months; 2022 study found improvement with escalating dose from 1g to 3g/day
Source: How Not to Age
Reduces Risk Of
- Skin Cancer500 mg twice daily
ONTRAC trial: 500 mg twice daily for 1 year resulted in ~25% fewer skin cancers vs placebo with no significant side effects
Source: How Not to Age
Biological Mechanisms
How Nicotinamide works at a cellular level.
- PromotesMethyl group depletion
Even a single 100 mg dose of NAM can deplete methyl groups, elevating noradrenaline, serotonin, histamine, and homocysteine within hours
- PromotesSirtuin Inhibition
Nicotinamide is a putative negative regulator of yeast Sir2 and human SIRT1
Sources
- How Not to Age