Vitamin B-3 is used in Orthomolecular Medicine for treatment of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. A study with mice using B-3 (Nicotinamide, or Niacinamide form) shows promising results in the area of memory.
From Vitasearch:
| Summary# | 46819 |
| Topic: | Potential Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease: Vitamin B3 |
| Keywords: | ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, ALZHEIMER, MEMORY LOSS, COGNITION – Vitamin B3, Nicotinamide |
| Reference: | “Nicotinamide Restores Cognition in Alzheimer’s Disease Transgenic Mice via a Mechanism Involving Sirtuin Inhibition and Selective Reduction of Thr231-Phosphotau,” Green KN, Steffan JS, et al, The Journal of Neuroscience, 2008; 28(45): 11500-11510. (Address: Frank M. LaFerla, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1109 Gillespie Neuroscience Building, Irvine, CA 92697-4545, USA. Email: laferla@uci.edu ). |
| Summary: | In a study involving mice genetically engineered to have symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans (such as memory loss), administration of nicotinamide (a form of vitamin B3 found in foods such as pork, peanuts, turkey, chicken, salmon, and sunflower seeds, among others) was found to significantly improve memory. The authors conclude, “These preclinical findings suggest that oral nicotinamide may represent a safe treatment for AD and other tauopathies, and that phosphorylation of tau at Thr231 may regulate tau stability.” While these results are promising, additional research is needed to determine whether nicotinamide exerts these beneficial effects in humans as well. |
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