niacin

American  

[nahy-uh-sin] / ˈnaɪ ə sɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. nicotinic acid.

---

niacin British  

/ ˈnaɪəsɪn /

noun

1. another name for nicotinic acid

---

niacin Scientific  

/ nī′ə-sĭn /

1. 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

Example Sentences

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

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2024

Ph.D., discovered a link between 4PY, a breakdown product from excess niacin, and heart disease.

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

Prisoners with pellagra, the result of a lack of protein and niacin in their diets, suffered weakness, skin lesions, diarrhea, and dementia.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden