Q. What are the dietary source of Niacin?
A.Dietary Sources
The best food sources of vitamin B3 are found in beets, brewer's yeast, beef liver, beef kidney, fish, salmon, swordfish, tuna, sunflower seeds, and peanuts. Bread and cereals are usually fortified with niacin. In addition, foods that contain tryptophan, an amino acid the body coverts into niacin, include poultry, red meat, eggs, and dairy products.

Q.What are the functions of Niacin?
A.Niacin aids utilisation of energy and is important for healthy skin, digestive system, normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and for the synthesis of sex hormones.   
Deficiencies have been linked with dermatitis, diarrhoea and dementia with symptoms of fearfulness, apprehension, suspicion, worry, anger, depression, confusion, hostility, and irrational fears. There can also be a coated tongue, mouth ulcers, anorexia, dyspepsia, and intermittent constipation. Sufferers become fearful, tense, nervous, miserable, subject to dizziness, insomnia, recurring headaches and impaired memory. They may act immorally or criminally. Offenders with niacin deficiency have an impaired capacity to discern right from wrong. In some cases, individuals may have their moral attitudes negatively altered and in others it may lead to thoughtless promiscuity, pathological lying or petty stealing. 

Q.Does niacin or niacinamide help with high cholesterol?
A.Niacin is a well-accepted treatment for high cholesterol. Multiple studies show that niacin (not niacinamide) has significant benefits on levels of high-density cholesterol (HDL or "good cholesterol"), with better results than prescription drugs such as "statins" like atorvastatin (Lipitor®). There are also benefits on levels of low-density cholesterol (LDL or "bad cholesterol"), although these effects are less dramatic. Adding niacin to a second drug such as a statin may increase the effects on low-density lipoproteins.The use of niacin for the treatment of dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetes has been controversial because of the possibility of worsening glycemic control.

Q.What are the interactions of Niacin?
A.  If you are taking:

• Cholesterol-lowering drugs in the statin family, niacin might offer potential benefits; however, there are real dangers to this combination. Do not try it except under physician supervision.
• The antituberculosis drug isoniazid (INH): You may need extra niacin.
• Anticonvulsant drugs such as carbamazepine or primidone: Do not take niacinamide except under physician supervision.
• If you drink alcohol excessively:
• Do not take niacin except under physician supervision.