Nicotinic acid

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Fatty liver disease²

  People who ate more niacin in food were less likely to have fatty liver disease.

• Benefit

  Eye health in diabetes³

  Eating more niacin was linked to fewer cases of diabetic eye disease, but we do not know if niacin causes this.

• Benefit

  Suicidal thoughts⁴

  People who ate more niacin were less likely to report suicidal thoughts, though scientists do not yet know whether niacin causes this.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  How cells make energy⁵

  Nicotinic acid helps the body make NAD, which cells need for metabolism and respiration.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.