Niacinamide 500 mg by Thorne

If you want vitamin B3 without the skin flushing of niacin, a niacinamide supplement fits. It’s useful if you’re aiming to raise NAD+ (the cell’s energy currency) for cellular aging goals, or if your diet is limited and B-vitamin intake is inconsistent. People focused on skin appearance from the inside often choose niacinamide over niacin because it’s non-flushing and doesn’t affect lipids. If you actually need cholesterol or triglyceride changes, this is the wrong form.

Niacinamide converts into NAD+ and NADP+, the coenzymes that run hundreds of energy and repair reactions. Unlike niacin (nicotinic acid), it doesn’t activate the receptor that triggers flushing and it doesn’t lower VLDL particles (the form your liver packages fat into for transport), so you shouldn’t expect lipid changes. It’s the budget-friendly NAD+ precursor compared with nicotinamide riboside or NMN, though very high doses can push back on certain enzymes that depend on NAD+ recycling.

Take 1 capsule with food, once to three times daily, as on the label. Food reduces nausea that some feel at higher B3 doses. If your goal is steady NAD+ support, once or twice daily is typically enough; splitting doses improves tolerability. Niacinamide doesn’t need fat to absorb. If you’re comparing forms, niacin is for lipids and causes flushing, while niacinamide is non-flushing and cellular-focused.

At 500–1,500 mg per day most healthy adults tolerate niacinamide, but monitor liver enzymes like ALT and AST if you go higher or use it long term. It can nudge fasting glucose upward in some, so those with diabetes should track glucose or A1C. Skip or get clinician guidance if you have active liver disease, a history of gout (uric acid issues), are pregnant, or drink heavily.

Does it work quickly? Cellular NAD+ shifts happen within weeks, but you won’t feel a “buzz.” Can it replace fish oil or statins? No—unlike niacin, niacinamide doesn’t lower LDL or triglycerides. Is topical the same as oral? Topical niacinamide targets skin locally; capsules act systemically and are chosen for whole-body NAD+ goals.