niacin

American

[nahy-uh-sin] / ˈnaɪ ə sɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

nicotinic acid.

niacin British

/ ˈnaɪəsɪn /

noun

another name for nicotinic acid

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

niacin Scientific

/ nī′ə-sĭn /

A water-soluble organic acid belonging to the vitamin B complex that is important in carbohydrate metabolism. It is a pyridine derivative and is a precursor of the coenzyme NAD. Niacin is found in liver, fish, and whole-grain foods. Deficiency of niacin in the diet causes pellagra. Also called nicotinic acid. Chemical formula: C ₆ H ₅ NO ₂ .

Etymology

Origin of niacin

First recorded in 1935–40; ni(cotinic) ac(id) + -in ²

Compare meaning

How does niacin compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

niacin vs. niacinamide

Vocabulary lists containing niacin

Nutrition - Middle School

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Nutrition - High School

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Nutrition and Digestion - High School

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Flour is already fortified with calcium, niacin, thiamine and iron as a means of improving public health.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2024

"The main takeaway is not that we should cut out our entire intake of niacin -- that's not a realistic approach," said Dr. Hazen.

From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2024

It’s a diet that’s low in niacin, or at least the kind that our bodies can readily absorb.

From Scientific American • Oct. 26, 2023

I have been taking niacin for years along with vitamin C and the amino acids lysine and proline.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 14, 2023

The way to unlock the niacin in corn is to cook it with an alkali like lime.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023