Where is Niacin Vitamin B-3 found?
Rich natural sources of niacin include organ meats, fish, yeast, whole grains, dried peas and beans, and nuts. Corn contains tryptophan, from which the body can synthesize niacin, but the tryptophan is “bound” and cannot be used. Treating the corn with alkali releases the tryptophan for use. Niacin is soluble in hot water, so cooking foods by boiling may result in substantial losses. Who is likely to be deficient? Pellagra, the disease caused by a vitamin B3 deficiency, is rare in Western societies. Symptoms include loss of appetite, skin rash, diarrhea, mental changes, beefy tongue, and digestive and emotional disturbance. How much Niacin Vitamin B-3 take? The RDA for niacin varies from six mg. for babies to thirteen mg. for adult women and eighteen mg. for men and lactating women. Many times these amounts are usually required to overcome the effects of a deficiency, since one of the lingering effects is diminished gastrointestinal function. The mentally ill people who respond to niac
