Niacin (nicotinic acid, nicotinamide; vitamin B3)
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The classical niacin deficiency of humans is known as pellagra. Due
to the low levels of bioavailable niacin in corn (and of the amino acid
tryptophan, which can be used as a precursor for niacin), pellagra was common
among people which relied heavily on corn in their diet (note: alkali treatment
of corn meal, as in the "masa" used in making corn tortillas, improves the
bioavailability of niacin, reducing the likelihood of pellagra).
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Niacin activity can be provided by either nicotinic acid (niacin) or nicotinamide
(niacinamide).
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Niacin acts biochemically in the form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
(NAD) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP).
