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Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3 is a water-soluble vitamin supplied in supplements as nicotinic acid, niacinamide and related forms. Product form matters because the different B3 forms are not identical in how they are used or experienced.

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In this guideIngredient basics, choosing & product comparison

What is vitamin B3?

Vitamin B3 is the name used for niacin activity supplied by compounds such as nicotinic acid and niacinamide (nicotinamide). These forms contribute to the body’s NAD and NADP coenzyme systems, which are central to cellular energy metabolism.

What does vitamin B3 support?

Vitamin B3 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal functioning of the nervous system and normal psychological function. It also contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

What happens if you don’t get enough vitamin B3?

Severe niacin deficiency causes pellagra. It classically affects the skin, digestive system and nervous system, with features such as sun-sensitive dermatitis, diarrhoea and cognitive or behavioural changes. Pellagra is uncommon in well-nourished populations.

Niacin status depends on more than niacin intake alone

The body can make niacin from tryptophan, and this conversion also depends on other nutrients. Severe deficiency is therefore usually considered in a broader nutrition or medical context rather than from one symptom alone.

Vitamin B3 and skin

Skin is a particularly natural B3 topic because niacin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. Niacinamide is also widely used in topical skincare research and products, but topical cosmetic evidence should not be treated as proof that an oral B3 supplement produces the same cosmetic effects.

Nicotinic acid, niacinamide or “flush-free” niacin?

Nicotinic acid is the form most associated with the familiar temporary niacin flush at higher supplemental amounts. Niacinamide provides niacin activity without producing the same flush. “Flush-free” products may instead use inositol hexanicotinate, so the exact ingredient form should be visible when products are compared.

B3 strength depends on the form

The EU Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) for niacin is 16 mg NE, but standalone B3 products can provide much more. Compare the daily amount together with the labelled B3 form rather than treating a higher milligram value or % NRV as automatically better.

What should you compare?

Vitamin B3 / day

Compare the niacin amount supplied by the recommended daily serving.

Form

Check whether the product contains nicotinic acid, niacinamide or inositol hexanicotinate.

Standalone or combination

B3 appears in standalone products, B-complexes and multivitamins, so the whole formulation may matter as much as the B3 amount alone.

Product comparison

Compare vitamin B3 supplements

Compare vitamin B3 per day, form, serving, other active ingredients, format and vegan suitability.

The EU Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) for vitamin B3 is 16 mg niacin equivalents (NE) for adult labelling. Vitamin B3 is water-soluble, and high-strength supplements can provide many times the EU NRV. The NRV is a labelling reference, not a personal dose recommendation or a measure of product effectiveness.

How products are ordered: by labelled daily vitamin B3 amount, lower to higher; equal amounts alphabetically. This is not a ranking.

ProductVitamin B3 / dayFormRecommended servingOther active ingredientsFormatVegan
Solgar Niacin 100 mgView product ↗100 mgNicotinic acid1 tablet daily, preferably with a meal—TabletYes
NOW Flush-Free Niacin 500 mgView product ↗500 mgInositol hexanicotinate1 veg capsule dailyInositolVeg capsuleYes
NOW Niacin 500 mgView product ↗500 mgNicotinic acid1 veg capsule daily as needed, with a meal—Veg capsuleYes
NOW Niacinamide B-3 500 mgView product ↗500 mgNiacinamide1 veg capsule daily with a meal—Veg capsuleYes
Sunday Natural Vitamin B3 Nicotinamide 500 mgView product ↗500 mgNicotinamide1 capsule daily—HPMC capsuleYes
EU health claim details
✓

Authorised health claims

A quick consumer view — full regulatory list available below
●  Niacin contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.Tiredness & fatigue · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of niacin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 2.4 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 1.2 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 2.4 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1757

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  Niacin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin.Skin · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of niacin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 2.4 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 1.2 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 2.4 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1224; 2010;8(10):1757

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  A combination of artichoke leaf dry extract standardised in caffeoylquinic ac...Cholesterol & blood lipids · General population
Claim type
Disease risk reduction (Article 14(1)(a))

Condition of use
Food supplement must provide per daily intake: 600 mg artichoke leaf dry extr...

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2013;11(7):3327

EU legal source
SRC-2023-648

Additional statement / restriction
Use of the claim is restricted to Laboratoire Lescuyer for five years from en...
●  Niacin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.Energy metabolism · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of niacin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 2.4 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 1.2 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 2.4 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1224; 2010;8(10):1757

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  Niacin contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.Nervous system · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of niacin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 2.4 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 1.2 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 2.4 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1224

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  Niacin contributes to normal psychological function.Psychological function · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of niacin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 2.4 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 1.2 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 2.4 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1757

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  Niacin contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes.Mucous membranes · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of niacin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 2.4 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 1.2 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 2.4 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1224

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
×

Other assessed health claims (8)

Not authorised for use in the EU
View claims ↓
A non-authorised claim is not automatically the same as a scientifically disproven claim. Open a claim to see the recorded reason or source details where available.
●  Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of bone.Bones ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1224

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
●  Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of hair.Hair ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1224

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
●  Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of nails.Nails ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1224

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
●  Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of teeth.Teeth ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1224

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
●  Important for vascular blood flow.Blood circulation ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1757

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, the proposed conditions of use would encourage excess consumption of this food, which is contrary to the criteria laid down in the Regulation.
●  Activate the scalp microcirculation — assessed relationship: maintenance of hair.Hair ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1224

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
●  Activate the scalp microcirculation — assessed relationship: maintenance of nails.Nails ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1224

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
●  Helps to control blood lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglycerides).Blood lipids ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1224

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Form-specific claim for nicotinic acid. Non-authorised; the proposed conditions of use would encourage excess consumption of niacin.

Regulatory details

Check how the claims on this page are classified and where their regulatory information comes from.

View page-level details
Ingredient
Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Category
Vitamin
NRV
16 mg
Authorised claims
7
Other assessed claims
8
Claim framework
EU nutrition and health claims framework. Individual claim cards show the specific claim type, conditions of use, EFSA reference and legal source available in the version data.

Tip: expand any claim above for its claim-specific source details. The European Commission's EU Register is an information service; legal acts are the authoritative source for legal requirements, and some pending claims are not shown in the Register.

Claim use requirements

How much of this nutrient must a food contain for an EU health claim to be used?

For claims requiring the food to be a source of Niacin, the usual NRV-based significant amount is:
2.4 mg / 100 g or 100 ml for foods other than beverages
1.2 mg / 100 ml for beverages
2.4 mg per portion if the package contains only one portion
These are the general EU significant-amount reference levels. A claim-specific condition may be stricter and takes precedence.

Sources

Sources & further reading