1. Description: NADH (Q-1) is one of the most powerful anti-oxidants: it has the highest reduction potential of any compound found in the body's cells. The more NADH you have in your body the better the DNA repair system functions. NADH may retard cell death and tissue degeneration. It can give up to a six-fold production of dopamine, so it is potentially a remedy against Parkinson's disease. NADH has been shown to be effective against Alzheimer's disease and dementia. 1 capsule contains 5.0 mg NADH, 2.0 mg Vitamin B6, 1.6 mg Vitamin B2, 1.4 mg Vitamin B1, 1.0 mcg Vitamin B1.

2. Drug Mechanism: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is the active coenzyme form of vitamin B3. It plays an essential role in the energy production of every human cell.

In the brain, increased NADH concentrations may result in improved production of essential neurotransmitters.1 Large preliminary studies using oral or injected NADH to treat Parkinson's disease showed reductions in physical disability and in the need for medication;2 3 however, a small, double-blind, short-term trial using injections of NADH found no significant effects.4 A small, uncontrolled study showed that oral NADH improved mental function in people with Alzheimer's disease.5 Preliminary research suggests that NADH may also help people with depression6 or chronic fatigue syndrome.7 These promising results come from research conducted by the developer of the oral NADH supplement and require independent confirmation.

3. Where is it found: NADH is found in the muscle tissue of fish and poultry and cattle, as well as in food products made with yeast. However, it is not known whether the NADH from these sources can be efficiently absorbed or utilized by the body. It is also available as a nutritional supplement.

4. NADH is Prescribed for: NADH deficiency is known to occur only in the presence of vitamin B3 deficiency, which is rare in Western society except in some alcoholics.

5. Which form of NADH is best: NADH appears to be a chemically unstable molecule that decomposes rapidly. For this reason, techniques have been developed to stabilize the NADH sold in tablet form. At the present time, it is not known which commercially available NADH products are most effective.

6. Dosage Form: Researchers have used 10 mg per day, taken with water only, on an empty stomach.

7. Drug Interactions: Clinical studies of NADH using oral or intravenous administration have reported no side effects with up to one year or more of use. Longer-term use has not been evaluated.

At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with NADH.

Vitamin B3

Also indexed as: Inositol Hexaniacinate, Niacin, Niacinamide, Nicotinamide, Nicotinic Acid

1. Drug Mechanism: The body uses the water-soluble vitamin B3 in the process of releasing energy from carbohydrates. It is needed to form fat from carbohydrates and to process alcohol. The niacin form of vitamin B3 also regulates cholesterol, though niacinamide does not.

Vitamin B3 comes in two basic forms-niacin (also called nicotinic acid) and niacinamide (also called nicotinamide). A variation on niacin, called inositol hexaniacinate, is also available in supplements. Since it has not been linked with any of the usual niacin toxicity in scientific research, some doctors recommend inositol hexaniacinate for people who need large amounts of niacin.

2. Where is it found: The best food sources of vitamin B3 are peanuts, brewer's yeast, fish, and meat. Some vitamin B3 is also found in whole grains.

3. Vitamin B3 is Prescribed for: Pellagra, the disease caused by a vitamin B3 deficiency, is rare in Western societies. Symptoms include loss of appetite, skin rash, diarrhea, mental changes, beefy tongue, and digestive and emotional disturbance.

4. Dosage Form: In part because it is added to white flour, most people generally get enough vitamin B3 from their diets to prevent a deficiency. However, 10-25 mg of the vitamin can be taken as part of a B-complex or multivitamin supplement. Larger amounts are used for the treatment of various health conditions.

5. Drug Interactions: Niacinamide is almost always safe to take, though rare liver problems have occurred at amounts in excess of 1,000 mg per day. Niacin, in amounts as low as 50-100 mg, may cause flushing, headache, and stomachache in some people. Doctors sometimes prescribe very high amounts of niacin (as much as 3,000 mg per day or more) for certain health problems. These large amounts can cause liver damage, diabetes, gastritis, damage to eyes, and elevated blood levels of uric acid (which can cause gout). Symptoms caused by niacin supplements, such as flushing, have been reduced with sustained-release (also called 'time-release') niacin products. However, sustained-release forms of niacin have caused significant liver toxicity and, rarely, liver failure.1 2 3 4 5 One partial time-release (intermediate-release) niacin product has demonstrated clinical efficacy without flushing, and also without the liver function abnormalities typically associated with sustained-release niacin formulations.6 However, this form of niacin is available by prescription only.

In a controlled clinical trial, 1,000 mg or more per day of niacin raised blood levels of homocysteine, a substance associated with increased risk of heart disease.7 Since other actions of niacin lower heart disease risk,8 9 the importance of this finding is unclear. Nonetheless, for all of the reasons discussed above, large amounts of niacin should never be taken without consulting a doctor.

The inositol hexaniacinate form of niacin has not been linked with the side effects associated with niacin supplementation. In a group of people being treated alternatively with niacin and inositol hexaniacinate for skin problems, niacin supplementation (50-100 mg per day) was associated with numerous side effects, including skin flushing, nausea, vomiting and agitation.10 In contrast, people taking inositol hexaniacinate experienced no complaints whatsoever, even at amounts two to five times higher than the previously used amounts of niacin. However, the amount of research studying the safety of inositol hexaniacinate remains quite limited. Therefore, people taking this supplement in large amounts (2,000 mg or more per day) should be under the care of a doctor.

Vitamin B3 works with vitamin B1 and vitamin B2 to release energy from carbohydrates. Therefore, these vitamins are often taken together in a B-complex or multivitamin supplement (although most B3 research uses niacin or niacinamide alone).

Drug Interactions
Certain medicines interact with vitamin B3: Some interactions may increase the need for vitamin B3 (), other interactions may be negative () and indicate vitamin B3 should not be taken without first speaking with your physician or pharmacist, others may require further explanation (). Refer to the individual drug article for specific details about an interaction.

Note: the following list only includes the generic or class name of a medicine-to find a specific brand name, use the Safetychecker index.

Atorvastatin
Benztropine
Carbidopa
Carbidopa/Levodopa
Cerivastatin
Fluvastatin
Gemfibrozil
Glimepiride
Isoniazid
Lovastatin
Minocycline
Oral Contraceptives
Pravastatin
Repaglinide
Simvastatin
Tetracycline
Thioridazine
Tricyclic Antidepressants

Caution! Before starting to take this medicine, it is vital that you should consult your doctor! Do not use it on your own initiative, without medical advice.