niacin

Thân thiện

A nutritionist explains the importance of niacin in a balanced diet.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A B vitamin essential for the normal function of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract: Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin, part of the vitamin B complex, that the body needs to convert food into energy and maintain healthy skin, nerves, and digestion.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • A deficiency in niacin can lead to a disease called pellagra.
  • Foods like poultry, fish, and whole grains are good sources of niacin.
  • The doctor recommended a supplement containing niacin to support her metabolic health.

Advanced Usage

• "Niacin flush": A temporary, harmless side effect of high-dose niacin supplements, characterized by skin redness, warmth, and itching.
  • He experienced a niacin flush after taking his vitamin supplement on an empty stomach.

Variants and Related Words

• Nicotinic acid (n): A specific chemical form of niacin.

  • Nicotinic acid is one form used in dietary supplements and food fortification.

• Niacinamide / Nicotinamide (n): Another form of the vitamin that does not cause the "flush" effect.

  • The skincare product contains niacinamide for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Synonyms

• Vitamin B3: The common alternative name for niacin.
• PP factor (Pellagra-Preventive factor): An older term used historically.

Related Phrases

• Niacin equivalent (NE): A unit of measurement that accounts for the body's ability to make niacin from the amino acid tryptophan.
  • Nutritional labels may list niacin content in niacin equivalents.

Related Idioms

(No common idioms are directly based on the word "niacin." It is a scientific term primarily used in nutritional and biochemical contexts.)

Học thuật

Noun

1. a B vitamin essential for the normal function of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract

Từ đồng nghĩa

• nicotinic acid