Niacin intake and suicidal thoughts in US adults
What it found
In a survey of 26,224 American adults, those who ate more niacin were less likely to report suicidal thoughts.
The study cannot show that niacin prevents them.
What they found
Studies in people
Suicidal thoughts common
Among the 26,224 people, 970 (3.7%) reported suicidal thoughts. Their average age was 49.6 years and 49.8% were female.
Higher niacin, fewer thoughts
After adjusting for many factors, each higher amount of dietary niacin was linked to a lower chance of reporting suicidal thoughts. The authors report this as an inverse association.
L-shaped pattern
The link followed an L-shaped curve, with a turning point at 26.78 mg of niacin per day. Below that level the link was significant; above it, it was not.
Hyperlipidemia subgroup
The link was stronger in people with a history of hyperlipidemia. The authors say niacin's lipid-lowering effect may help explain this.
CRP mediation
C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, explained about 3.6% of the link between niacin intake and suicidal thoughts. The authors say this suggests inflammation plays a small part.
What the authors conclude
“This study indicates an increased dietary niacin intake associated with a reduced prevalence of SI, underscoring the potential public health and clinical importance of dietary niacin intake.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that higher dietary niacin intake is associated with a lower prevalence of suicidal thoughts.
- They say that maintaining a dietary niacin intake of at least 26.78 mg/day may reduce the risk of suicidal thoughts.
- They call for further prospective studies and randomized controlled trials to explore the safety and efficacy of niacin-rich foods in reducing this risk.
How it was done
The authors wanted to know whether dietary niacin is linked to suicidal thoughts, because niacin affects the brain and inflammation, and this link had not been studied before.
They analysed data from 26,224 American adults aged 18 and over in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Niacin intake came from a single dietary interview, and suicidal thoughts were measured with one question from a depression questionnaire.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a cross-sectional survey, so it can show a link but not that niacin prevents suicidal thoughts.
- Suicidal thoughts were measured by a questionnaire, which can be inaccurate.
- The study did not measure blood niacin levels, so it cannot tell whether the effect works through niacin in the blood.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Wenzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by the National Centre for Health Statistics Research Ethics Review Board, and every participant signed informed consent. The written informed consent of all subjects was obtained following the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
- Authors work at
- Pingyang Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, China; The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, China
The paper
- Title
- Association between dietary niacin intake and suicidal ideation: mediating role of C-reactive protein
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Lin H, Xu J, Wang B, Ye W, Jiang X, Qu S (2025). Association between dietary niacin intake and suicidal ideation: mediating role of C-reactive protein. BMC psychiatry. doi:10.1186/s12888-025-07278-1Free full textPubMed 40859220DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error