{"id":24147,"date":"2024-12-21T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-21T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/?p=24147"},"modified":"2026-10-19T18:19:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T22:19:49","slug":"nad-vs-niacin-vs-niacinamide-vitamin-b3-differences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/nad-vs-niacin-vs-niacinamide-vitamin-b3-differences\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicotinamide vs Niacinamide: The Same B3, and How It Differs From Niacin and NAD+"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);}.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:5px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;}.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#ffffff;}.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:5px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:5px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columncm_6d0da7-34\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">The Short Answer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nicotinamide and niacinamide are the same molecule, so choose by dose and goal, not by the name.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Niacin is a different form of B3 that causes flushing and changes cholesterol.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Niacinamide alone didn&#8217;t raise blood NAD+ over two weeks in one trial, while NR and NMN did.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test your NAD+ before starting any B3 supplement, then retest at four to six weeks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&#8217;s a niacinamide serum on your bathroom shelf and a bottle of nicotinamide capsules in your online cart, and you&#8217;re wondering whether you&#8217;re about to double up. <strong>Nicotinamide and niacinamide are the same molecule, so choose by dose and goal, not by the name.<\/strong> The differences that matter sit between nicotinamide, niacin and NAD+ itself, and those are the ones that change what you&#8217;ll feel and what you can measure.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);}.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:14px;border-top-right-radius:14px;border-bottom-right-radius:14px;border-bottom-left-radius:14px;}.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#F6F3EA;}.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columncm_8827c2-c4\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever form of B3 you take, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/product\/intracellular-nad-test\/\">Intracellular NAD+ Test<\/a> shows whether it&#8217;s raising the NAD+ inside your cells. Test before you start, then again a few weeks later to see your own result.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are Nicotinamide and Niacinamide the Same Thing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Nicotinamide and niacinamide are two names for one molecule, the amide form of vitamin B3. The formula, the structure and the job in your body are identical, so a label that says either one is giving you the same ingredient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two names come from history rather than chemistry. The vitamin was first called nicotinic acid, and in the 1940s US health officials pushed the name &#8220;niacin&#8221; so nobody would link a vitamin added to bread with the nicotine in cigarettes. The amide form picked up &#8220;niacinamide&#8221; the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Researchers still tend to say nicotinamide, while skincare brands prefer niacinamide (it sounds less like something you&#8217;d find in an ashtray).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll see a few other names for vitamin B3 on labels too:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Niacin or nicotinic acid, the form that causes flushing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nicotinamide, niacinamide or NAM, which are all the same molecule<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inositol hexanicotinate, a niacin compound sold as &#8220;no-flush niacin&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nicotinamide riboside (NR), a newer form sold to raise NAD+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Niacin&#8221; also gets used as the umbrella name for the whole vitamin, which is why two labels can both say niacin and mean different things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Niacin vs Niacinamide: Flushing and Cholesterol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Niacin and niacinamide are both vitamin B3, but your body treats them very differently once you take more than you&#8217;d get from food. Niacin is the acid form and niacinamide is the amide, and that small chemical change decides whether you feel warm and itchy twenty minutes after your capsule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Niacin Flush<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At supplement doses, niacin widens the small blood vessels in your skin, so your face, neck and chest turn red, warm and tingly for a while. It&#8217;s harmless for most people, but it feels like a sunburn you didn&#8217;t earn, and plenty of people stop taking niacin because of it. Niacinamide doesn&#8217;t switch on the skin receptor behind the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/niacin-flushing\/\">niacin flush<\/a>, so it doesn&#8217;t cause one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Niacin and Cholesterol<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only niacin changes blood fats. At high doses it lowers LDL and raises HDL, which is why doctors once prescribed it for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/niacin-for-cholesterol\/\">cholesterol<\/a>. That changed after a <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25014686\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trial of 25,673 adults with heart disease<\/a> who were already on a statin. Adding niacin didn&#8217;t cut heart attacks or strokes over about four years, and it raised the rate of serious blood sugar problems. Niacinamide doesn&#8217;t lower cholesterol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NAD vs Niacin vs Niacinamide: How Each B3 Becomes NAD+<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NAD+ is the molecule your cells build from vitamin B3 and then use to turn food into energy and repair DNA. Levels tend to fall as you age. Each form takes its own route into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/what-is-nad\/\">NAD+<\/a>, and our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/nad-precursors\/\">NAD+ precursors<\/a> maps all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Niacin (Nicotinic Acid)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Niacin enters through a three-step route called the Preiss-Handler pathway, named after the two scientists who mapped it. When researchers added each B3 form to human blood in the lab, niacin was the strongest NAD+ raiser of the four, though the flush and the blood sugar effects limit how much most people can comfortably take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nicotinamide (Niacinamide)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nicotinamide is the form your cells recycle. Every time an enzyme uses NAD+, nicotinamide is left over, and your cells turn it back into NAD+ through the salvage pathway. Extra nicotinamide feeds that loop, but the effect may not last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12855009\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">two-week trial in healthy adults<\/a>, nicotinamide nudged blood NAD+ up briefly after each dose but didn&#8217;t raise it overall, while NR and NMN did. The groups were small, about 16 people each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NR and NMN<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) are bigger building blocks that sit closer to NAD+ on the assembly line. In that same trial they raised blood NAD+ by a similar amount. We compare the two head to head in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/nmn-and-nr\/\">NMN and NR<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Form<\/th><th>Other names<\/th><th>Causes flushing?<\/th><th>Route to NAD+<\/th><th>What human studies show<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Niacin<\/td><td>Nicotinic acid<\/td><td>Yes, at supplement doses<\/td><td>Preiss-Handler, three steps<\/td><td>Lowers LDL, but didn&#8217;t reduce heart attacks when added to a statin<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nicotinamide<\/td><td>Niacinamide, NAM<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>Salvage (recycling) loop<\/td><td>Fewer new skin cancers in high-risk adults; only a brief rise in blood NAD+<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nicotinamide riboside<\/td><td>NR<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>Salvage, via NMN<\/td><td>Raises blood NAD+<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nicotinamide mononucleotide<\/td><td>NMN<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>Salvage, one step from NAD+<\/td><td>Raises blood NAD+<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Swallowing NAD+ itself is a different question, because the whole molecule is large and breaks down in your gut. We cover that in our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/liposomal-nad\/\">liposomal NAD<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Niacinamide for Skin: Serums vs Tablets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most people meet niacinamide in a serum or moisturizer, which is a different job from a capsule. On the skin it&#8217;s mainly used for redness, oiliness and uneven tone, and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/niacinamide-benefits\/\">niacinamide benefits<\/a> guide covers that side in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Niacinamide Serums and Creams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A serum works on the skin you put it on. It won&#8217;t shift your NAD+ level in a way a blood test would pick up, and it won&#8217;t cause a flush. If your face cream and your capsule list the same ingredient, there&#8217;s nothing to worry about and nothing to count twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nicotinamide 500 mg Tablets for Skin Cancer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oral nicotinamide has its strongest human evidence for one specific use. In the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26488693\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ONTRAC trial<\/a>, adults who&#8217;d already had at least two non-melanoma skin cancers took 500 mg twice a day for a year and had 23% fewer new ones than the placebo group. The benefit faded once they stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36856616\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">later trial in organ-transplant recipients<\/a> found no benefit, so this is a dermatologist&#8217;s call for high-risk patients rather than a general sunscreen pill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Check Whether Your B3 Is Raising NAD+<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you take any form of B3 for longevity, what you want to know is whether the NAD+ inside your cells went up. A finger-prick test answers that, and it takes two of them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Test before you start. An intracellular NAD+ test gives your starting level in \u00b5M (micromoles per liter). Dr. She&#8217;s framework sets 40 to 100 \u00b5M as optimal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pick one product and take it every day at the same dose and time for at least four weeks, so you know what caused any change.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Retest at four to six weeks. If you&#8217;re still under 40 \u00b5M, adjust the dose or try a different form, then test again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Nicotinamide and niacinamide are one molecule with two names,&#8221; says Dr. Jin-Xiong She. &#8220;What changes from person to person is how much NAD+ your cells actually make from it, and you only find that out by measuring.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NAD+ is one part of how you age, and high doses of some B3 forms can move other markers too. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/shop\/longevity-blood-test-kits\/\">longevity blood tests<\/a> measure intracellular NAD+ alongside ALT (a liver enzyme), HbA1c and ApoB, so you can see your NAD+ and the markers B3 can affect in one draw. If you&#8217;re still choosing a product, our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/nad-boosters\/\">NAD boosters<\/a> compares the main forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nicotinamide Side Effects and Who Should Be Careful<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nicotinamide is one of the gentler B3 forms, and most problems show up at high doses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Nicotinamide Side Effects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12583601\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 overview of 14 reviews<\/a> found that both niacin and nicotinamide can cause stomach upset, changes in liver enzymes, rash and tiredness, with fewer problems from nicotinamide. Side effects rose with dose and usually eased when people cut back. The authors suggested routine monitoring may not be needed below 1,500 mg a day of nicotinamide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may also read that nicotinamide blocks sirtuins, enzymes tied to aging in lab research. That idea comes from test-tube work. Inside living cells, nicotinamide is quickly turned into NAD+, and a <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11107671\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">review of the lab evidence<\/a> concluded the blocking effect is brief and may even reverse. Human studies haven&#8217;t tested it directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Should Check With a Clinician First<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talk with your clinician before taking more than a multivitamin amount of any B3 form if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You have liver disease or raised liver enzymes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have kidney disease, since side effects are more common when kidneys filter less well<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have diabetes or prediabetes, because high-dose niacin worsened blood sugar control in a large trial<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You take a statin or other cholesterol medicine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&#8217;re pregnant or breastfeeding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under Dr. She&#8217;s framework, NAD+ levels above 100 \u00b5M aren&#8217;t likely to add benefit, which is another reason to test rather than keep raising the dose. Ask your clinician before combining B3 forms or changing a dose.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);}.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:16px;border-top-right-radius:16px;border-bottom-right-radius:16px;border-bottom-left-radius:16px;}.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#082752;}.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a, .kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a h1, .kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a h2, .kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a h3, .kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a h4, .kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a h5, .kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a h6{color:#ffffff;}.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a a{color:#ffffff;}.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a a:hover{color:#dcece6;}.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columncm_2944fa-7a\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#dcece6;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.09em;text-transform:uppercase\">How Jinfiniti Can Help<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#ffffff\">You&#8217;ve sorted out the names. Now you want to know whether your B3 supplement is actually raising your NAD+.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#ffffff\">Our Intracellular NAD+ Test measures the NAD+ inside your cells, and Vitality\u2191\u00ae pairs niacinamide with NMN, creatine and D-ribose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#ffffff\">Test before you start, take one product daily, then retest at four to six weeks to see your own result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/shop\/nad-supplements-and-tests\/\" style=\"border-radius:99px;color:#082752;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:700\">Shop NAD+ and Tests<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What foods contain niacinamide?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Animal foods are the main source. Meat, poultry and fish carry most of their B3 as nicotinamide, while nuts, seeds and legumes carry mostly niacin. Fortified cereals and breads add niacinamide too, and your body makes a little B3 from tryptophan, an amino acid in protein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is niacin the same as vitamin B3?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Niacin is one form of vitamin B3, and the word is also used as the umbrella name for the whole vitamin. So a &#8220;niacin&#8221; label may mean nicotinic acid specifically. Check the Supplement Facts panel for &#8220;nicotinic acid&#8221; or &#8220;niacinamide&#8221; to know which form you&#8217;re getting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is niacinamide or niacin good for arthritis?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The evidence is thin. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/8841834\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">12-week trial of 72 people with osteoarthritis<\/a>, niacinamide improved overall arthritis scores and joint movement, but pain didn&#8217;t change. Larger trials haven&#8217;t confirmed it, so talk with your clinician before using high doses for your joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it safe to take nicotinamide every day?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most adults at modest doses, yes. The skin cancer trial used 500 mg twice a day for a year without more side effects than placebo. Talk with your clinician before taking high doses daily, especially if you have liver or kidney problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is nicotinamide riboside the same as niacinamide?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is nicotinamide joined to a sugar called ribose, and your body handles it differently. NR raised blood NAD+ in a two-week trial where nicotinamide didn&#8217;t. Our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/nicotinamide-riboside-vs-niacinamide\/\">NR vs niacinamide<\/a> covers the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83e\uddec Related Reading<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/nmn-vs-niacin\/\">NMN vs. Niacin: Safety and Efficacy for Longevity<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/nad-foods\/\">20 Foods That Boost NAD Levels<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/niacin-side-effects-risks\/\">Niacin (B3): Side Effects, Reactions, Overdose Risks Explained<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>HPS2-THRIVE Collaborative Group; Landray MJ, Haynes R, Hopewell JC, et al. Effects of extended-release niacin with laropiprant in high-risk patients. <em>N Engl J Med<\/em>. 2014;371(3):203-212. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1056\/NEJMoa1300955\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.1056\/NEJMoa1300955<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Christen S, Redeuil K, Goulet L, et al. The differential impact of three different NAD+ boosters on circulatory NAD and microbial metabolism in humans. <em>Nat Metab<\/em>. 2026;8(1):62-73. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s42255-025-01421-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.1038\/s42255-025-01421-8<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chen AC, Martin AJ, Choy B, et al. A phase 3 randomized trial of nicotinamide for skin-cancer chemoprevention. <em>N Engl J Med<\/em>. 2015;373(17):1618-1626. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1056\/NEJMoa1506197\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.1056\/NEJMoa1506197<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allen NC, Martin AJ, Snaidr VA, et al. Nicotinamide for skin-cancer chemoprevention in transplant recipients. <em>N Engl J Med<\/em>. 2023;388(9):804-812. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1056\/NEJMoa2203086\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.1056\/NEJMoa2203086<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Young SL, Gazzard G. The adverse effects of oral niacin\/nicotinamide: an overview of reviews. <em>Eye (Lond)<\/em>. 2025;39(16):2852-2859. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41433-025-04027-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.1038\/s41433-025-04027-2<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hwang ES, Song SB. Nicotinamide is an inhibitor of SIRT1 in vitro, but can be a stimulator in cells. <em>Cell Mol Life Sci<\/em>. 2017;74(18):3347-3362. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00018-017-2527-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.1007\/s00018-017-2527-8<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jonas WB, Rapoza CP, Blair WF. The effect of niacinamide on osteoarthritis: a pilot study. <em>Inflamm Res<\/em>. 1996;45(7):330-334. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/BF02252945\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.1007\/BF02252945<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Short Answer There&#8217;s a niacinamide serum on your bathroom shelf and a bottle of nicotinamide capsules in your online cart, and you&#8217;re wondering whether you&#8217;re about to double up. Nicotinamide and niacinamide are the same molecule, so choose by dose and goal, not by the name. The differences that matter sit between nicotinamide, niacin [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10909,"featured_media":24151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"[{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4409\/8\/8\/890\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\" title=\\\"\\\">https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4409\/8\/8\/890<\/a>\",\"id\":\"134b9e58-75a6-48b6-824e-387420a657bc\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/15384101.2017.1285631\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\" title=\\\"\\\">https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/15384101.2017.1285631<\/a>\",\"id\":\"3bcc2fc3-c8eb-4493-99e6-d2866a10de9c\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3921\/11\/9\/1637\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\" title=\\\"\\\">https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3921\/11\/9\/1637<\/a>\",\"id\":\"39b9232a-56fa-444a-96f1-6018a23ee996\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.ahajournals.org\/doi\/10.1161\/atvbaha.111.236315\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\" title=\\\"\\\">https:\/\/www.ahajournals.org\/doi\/10.1161\/atvbaha.111.236315<\/a>\",\"id\":\"9c208f74-d217-4c93-965c-a24bb020f530\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamainternalmedicine\/fullarticle\/216937\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\" title=\\\"\\\">https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamainternalmedicine\/fullarticle\/216937<\/a>\",\"id\":\"67d7ee5a-e169-4c19-8afa-bc2a785d56d1\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3921\/13\/4\/425\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\" title=\\\"\\\">https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3921\/13\/4\/425<\/a>\",\"id\":\"ba20fc55-7d43-4256-850d-405a6206aefa\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7352172\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\" title=\\\"\\\">https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7352172\/<\/a>\",\"id\":\"aa208920-52ea-4cd5-91af-1d0e694966fc\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36482258\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\" title=\\\"\\\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36482258\/<\/a>\",\"id\":\"72e3ade4-cc92-4828-b2a9-51a84cd87157\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.biospace.com\/preclinical-study-builds-on-growing-body-of-evidence-showcasing-exogenous-nicotinamide-mononucleotide-nmn-must-be-converted-to-nicotinamide-riboside-nr-making-nr-a-more-efficient-nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide-nad-precursor-to-nmn\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\" title=\\\"\\\">https:\/\/www.biospace.com\/preclinical-study-builds-on-growing-body-of-evidence-showcasing-exogenous-nicotinamide-mononucleotide-nmn-must-be-converted-to-nicotinamide-riboside-nr-making-nr-a-more-efficient-nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide-nad-precursor-to-nmn<\/a>\",\"id\":\"a9594404-1410-4d91-a967-b496394ef768\"}]"},"categories":[351,352,353,354,359],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nad-supplement-interventions","category-nad-precursors","category-niacin","category-nicotinamide","category-vitamin-b"],"acf":{"jn_featured_product_image":46013,"jn_featured_product_headline":"Intracellular NAD+ Test","jn_featured_product_content":"See whether your B3 supplement is raising the NAD+ in your cells.","jn_featured_product_label":"MEASURE YOUR NAD+","jn_featured_product_link":{"title":"Test Your NAD+","url":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/product\/intracellular-nad-test\/","target":""}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10909"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24147"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68193,"href":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24147\/revisions\/68193"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jinfiniti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}