Vitamin B3, or ‘Niacin’, is a B vitamin produced and used by your body to convert food into energy. It supports the health of your nervous system, digestive system, and skin, but can the vitamin help with sugar cravings and weight managements?

Vitamin B’s role

Like all B vitamins, niacin assists in transforming food into energy by supporting enzymes.

It is a key part of NAD and NADP, coenzymes crucial for cellular metabolism. Additionally, niacin contributes to cell signaling, DNA synthesis and repair, and functions as an antioxidant in the body.

Food high in vitamin B3 on dark background. Healthy diet concept. Top view, flat lay, copy space

Metabolism

Although vitamin B3 (niacin) is crucial for energy metabolism and general well-being, there is no conclusive proof that it helps with weight loss directly. However, it might assist in maintaining a healthy weight by enhancing metabolism and possibly affecting fat processing.

Emotional effects

B vitamins play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy nervous system. A deficiency in these vitamins may result in tiredness and mood swings, potentially triggering sugar cravings for emotional relief.

Blood fat levels

Niacin may aid in enhancing your blood lipid profiles by:

  • boosting your HDL (beneficial) cholesterol
  • lowering your LDL (harmful) cholesterol
  • decreasing your triglyceride levels

This could potentially lead to a reduced risk of heart disease; however, various studies have indicated no significant connection between niacin supplementation and a decline in heart disease risk or mortality rates.

Additionally, substantial doses of niacin, generally 1500 mg or more, are required to see improvements in blood lipid levels, which raises the likelihood of experiencing uncomfortable or possibly dangerous side effects.

For these reasons, niacin is not considered a first-line treatment for high cholesterol. It is mainly utilized to assist individuals who are unable to tolerate statin medications.

Diet & supplementation

Foods that provide niacin include meat, fish, and nuts. Over the counter supplements can be taken if your diet doesn’t have incorporate many B3-rich foods. Desistal’s ‘Sugar Cravings Control‘ incorporates vitamin B3 along with various other ingredients which may reduce sugar cravings such as Bacopa Monnieri, Apple Cider Vinegar, Zinc, ginseng, Magnesium, fenugreek and vitamin C.

Summary

Vitamin B3 is used by your body to convert food into energy. The vitamin is crucial for metabolism as well as general well-being and although vitamin B3 may or may not have a direct effect on weight loss, it’s role may help weight management indirectly by doing the following:

Improving wellbeing, reducing tiredness and mood swings which could trigger sugar cravings to deal with emotional turmoil.

Reduce blood fat profiles, leading to a decreased in the risk of heart disease.