Nicotinamide

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Nicotinamide appears to play a role in protecting neurons from traumatic injury, ischemia, and stroke, as well as being implicated in 3 key neurodegenerative conditions: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases. Nicotinamide, the amide form of vitamin B3 (niacin), has long been associated with neuronal development, survival,...

For severe symptoms, danger signs, pregnancy, child illness, or sudden worsening, seek urgent medical care.

বাংলা রোগী নোট এখনো যোগ করা হয়নি। পোস্ট এডিটরে “RX Bangla Patient Mode” বক্স থেকে সহজ বাংলা সারাংশ যোগ করুন।

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Article Summary

Nicotinamide appears to play a role in protecting neurons from traumatic injury, ischemia, and stroke, as well as being implicated in 3 key neurodegenerative conditions: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases. Nicotinamide, the amide form of vitamin B3 (niacin), has long been associated with neuronal development, survival, and function in the central nervous system (CNS), being implicated in both neuronal death and neuroprotection. Here, we summarise a...

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Definition

Nicotinamide appears to play a role in protecting neurons from traumatic injury, ischemia, and stroke, as well as being implicated in 3 key neurodegenerative conditions: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases. Nicotinamide, the amide form of vitamin B3 (niacin), has long been associated with neuronal development, survival, and function in the central nervous system (CNS), being implicated in both neuronal death and neuroprotection. Here, we summarise a body of research investigating the role of nicotinamide in neuronal health within the CNS, with a focus on studies that have shown a neuroprotective effect.

Nicotinamide is a pyridine carboxamide that is pyridine in which the hydrogen at position 3 is replaced by a carboxamide group. It has a role as an EC 2.4.2.30 (NAD(+) ADP-ribosyltransferase) inhibitor, a metabolite, a cofactor, an antioxidant, a neuroprotective agent, an EC 3.5.1.98 (histone deacetylase) inhibitor, an infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।" data-rx-term="anti-inflammatory" data-rx-definition="Anti-inflammatory means reducing inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।">anti-inflammatory agent, a Sir2 inhibitor, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite, a mouse metabolite, a human urinary metabolite and a geroprotector. It is a vitamin B3, a pyridine carboxamide and a pyridine alkaloid. It is functionally related to nicotinic acid.
An important compound functioning as a component of the coenzyme NAD. Its primary significance is in the prevention and/or cure of blacktongue and pellagra. Most animals cannot manufacture this compound in amounts sufficient to prevent nutritional deficiency and it therefore must be supplemented through dietary intake.
A biologically active form of nicotinic acid; [Merck Index] A coenzyme composed of ribosyl nicotinamide 5′-diphosphate coupled to adenosine 5′-phosphate by pyrophosphate linkage. It is found widely in nature and is involved in numerous enzymatic reactions in which it serves as an electron carrier by being alternately oxidized (NAD+) and reduced (NADH). (Dorland, 27th ed) [ChemIDplus] Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, abbreviated NAD+, is a coenzyme found in all living cells

Indications

  • Niacin and niacinamide are used to prevent niacin deficiency and to treat pellagra. Some clinicians prefer niacinamide for the treatment of pellagra because it lacks vasodilating effects. Pellagra may result from dietary deficiency, isoniazid therapy, or from decreased conversion of tryptophan to niacin in Hartnup disease or carcinoid tumors.
  • Although niacin and niacinamide have not been shown by well-controlled trials to have therapeutic value, the drugs have been used for the management of schizophrenic disorder, drug-induced hallucinations, chronic brain syndrome, hyperkinesis, unipolar depression, motion sickness, alcohol dependence, livedoid vasculitis, acne, and leprosy.

The thirteen recognized classes of vitamins and their roles.

Vitamin Other names Examples of physiological functions
Vitamin A Retinol, retinoic acid, retinal, carotenoid Growth, maintenance of skin, bone development, maintenance of myelin, maintenance of vision
Vitamin B1 Thiamine Growth, appetite, digestion, nerve activity, energy production
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin Growth and development of fetus, redox systems, and respiratory enzymes; maintenance of mucosal, epithelial, and eye tissues
Vitamin B3 Nicotinamide, niacinamide, nicotinic acid, niacin Maintenance of NAD and NADP, coenzyme in lipid catabolism, oxidative deamination
Vitamin B5 Pantothenic acid Lipid metabolism, protein metabolism, part of coenzyme A in carbohydrate metabolism
Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine, pyridoxol, adermine Growth; protein, CHO, and lipid metabolism; coenzyme in amino acid metabolism
Vitamin B7 Biotin, protective factor X Growth; maintenance of skin, hair, bone marrow, and sex glands; biosynthesis of aspartate and unsaturated fatty acids
Vitamin B9 Folic acid, folacin, folinic acid Synthesis of nucleic acid, differentiation of embryonic nervous system
Vitamin B12 Cobalamin Coenzyme in nucleic acid, protein, and lipid synthesis; maintenance of epithelial cells and nervous system
Vitamin C Ascorbic acid Absorption of iron, antioxidants, growth, wound healing, formation of cartilage, dentine, bone and teeth, maintenance of capillaries
Vitamin D Vitamin D3, cholecalciferol, calcitriol Normal growth, Ca and P absorption maintains and activates alkaline phosphatase in bone, maintains serum calcium and phosphorus levels
Vitamin E Tocopherol, Tokopharm, tocotrienols Antioxidant, growth maintenance, aids absorption of unsaturated fatty acids, maintains muscular metabolism and integrity of the vascular system and central nervous system
Vitamin K Prothrombin factor, menaquinones Blood-clotting mechanisms, electron transport mechanisms, growth, and prothrombin synthesis in liver

 

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Doctor to discuss: Doctor / qualified healthcare provider
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Questions to ask
  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
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Care roadmap for: Nicotinamide

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Go to emergency care if you notice:
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Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.
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    Check danger signs first

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  2. Step 2

    Record the symptom story

    Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.

  3. Step 3

    Visit a qualified clinician

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  4. Step 4

    Do only useful tests

    Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.

  5. Step 5

    Follow up and return early if worse

    If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips
  • Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
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  • Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

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