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Focus on B3

Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, has long been valued for the excellent health benefits it offers. These benefits include support for good blood circulation, healthy skin, brain function, and digestive tract fuctioning. Another important function of vitamin B3 is its ability to assist in lowering and controlling cholesterol levels. A member of the B-complex family of vitamins, it's an important addition to any nutrition regimen, and can also be used in supplement form. This week, a new study -- published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation by researchers from several institutions including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, and UCLA -- indicates that vitamin B3 may combat some of the antibiotic-resistant strains of staph infections which have become increasingly common, particularly in hospitals and nursing homes, and are also becoming more prevalent in the military and among athletes. This research found that high doses of vitamin B3 increased the ability of immune cells to kill staph bacteria by 1,000 times. The research was based on research utilizing both laboratory animals and human blood. Researchers hope that this study may offer a new avenue of attack against the growing number of "superbugs," and result in new methods to treat serious staph infections by stimulating the immune system. Scientists found that vitamin B3 increased the numbers and efficacy of specialized white blood cells called neutrophils that can kill and eat harmful bacteria. For the study, vitamin B3 was given at megadose levels, much more than a normal diet would provide. At this time there is no evidence that normal diets or conventional-strength supplements of vitamin B3 have any beneficial effect in preventing or treating bacterial infection. However, neutrophils are considered to be the front line in the battle against infections in the blood and the successful use of vitamin B3 against deadly infections that do not respond to antibiotics opens up new possibilities. Vitamin B3 also offers:

• a significant decrease in heart disease.
• help in lowering bad cholesterol levels.
• elevated good cholesterol levels -- it's important to note that sufficient quantities of vitamin B3 must be ingested for the required benefits.
• a reduction in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, cataracts, osteoarthritis, and type-1 diabetes.
• support for energy production of cellssupport for a healthy nervous system and digestive system.

Vitamin B3 is found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and green vegetables.  Be sure to include it in your daily regimen, the benefits are too good to pass on!