Functions: Niacin is vital for energy release in tissues and cells.
Working with riboflavin and thiamine, it helps to maintain healthy nervous and
digestive systems. It is essential for growth and is involved in the synthesis
of hormones.
Deficiency: Deficiency in animals affects the skin and digestive
tract. Ruminants on green fodder usually do not require extra niacin, but
niacin supplements improve milk yield in cows. Pellagra is a disease resulting
from a combined deficiency of niacin and tryptophan. The symptoms of pellagra
include dermatosis, dementia, diarrhoea and nervous disorders. Pellagra is
rarely seen in industrialized countries; however, it is associated with
alcohol abuse. In other parts of the world where maize and jowar (barley) are
the major staples, pellagra persists.
Product forms: DSM Nutritional Products supplies niacin as both
nicotinic acid and nicotinamide as powder forms.
