Niacinamide

• This vitamin is used to treat or prevent niacin deficiency.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

Niacinamide has not been formally assigned to a pregnancy category by the FDA. Niacinamide has been assigned to pregnancy category A by Briggs, et.al, and is considered compatible with pregnancy. The National Academy of Sciences recommended dietary allowance for niacin (which is converted in humans to niacinamide) is 17 mg. and is an essential nutrient required for lipid metabolism, tissue respiration, and glycogenolysis. Niacinamide is actively transported to the fetus. Higher concentrations are found in the fetus and newborn, rather than in the mother. Deficiency of niacinamide in pregnancy is uncommon except in women with poor nutrition. Niacinamide use in excess of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) during normal pregnancy should be avoided.

Niacin is actively excreted into breast milk. It is unknown if niacinamide is excreted into breast milk, but it is probable that it also is actively transferred. The National Academy of Sciences recommended dietary allowance for niacin is 20 mg. If the diet of the lactating woman adequately supplies this amount, supplementation with niacinamide is not needed. Maternal supplementation with the RDA for niacinamide is recommended only for those patients with inadequate nutritional intake. Niacinamide use in excess of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) during lactation should be avoided.