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Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Dosage Guide

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Full disclaimer

General Dosage

14 mg NE (women) to 16 mg NE (men) daily as RDA; therapeutic doses vary widely by form and indication

Maximum dose: 35 mg/day NE from supplements (UL to avoid flushing); therapeutic niacin up to 3,000 mg under medical supervision

Dosage Recommendations

General recommendation: 14 mg NE (women) to 16 mg NE (men) daily as RDA; therapeutic doses vary widely by form and indication

Timing: With food to reduce flushing (niacin); any time for niacinamide • Take with food for best absorption.

Dosage by Condition

General health
14-16 mg NE dailyStrong
Cholesterol (niacin)
1,000-3,000 mg nicotinic acid daily under medical supervisionStrong
Skin health (niacinamide)
500 mg twice dailyStrong
NAD+ support (NR)
250-1,000 mg nicotinamide riboside dailyEmerging

Upper limit: 35 mg/day NE from supplements (UL to avoid flushing); therapeutic niacin up to 3,000 mg under medical supervision

Timing & Absorption

With food to reduce flushing (niacin); any time for niacinamide

Best taken with food for optimal absorption.

References

  1. (). Niacin in patients with low HDL cholesterol levels receiving intensive statin therapy. New England Journal of Medicine. DOI
  2. (). A phase 3 randomized trial of nicotinamide for skin-cancer chemoprevention. New England Journal of Medicine. DOI
  3. (). Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Nature Communications. DOI