Nicotinamide also known as Niacinamide, is a form of vitamin B3 that plays a crucial role in the body's energy metabolism and maintenance of healthy skin. It is used in both food and cosmetics for its many benefits. is a starch derived from vitamin B3.
Vitamin B3 (pyridine-3-formic acid) an organic vitamin, is also known as niacin, (a generic name that also includes vitamin PP, niacinamide, nicotinamide, nicotinic acid and derivatives) is one of the 8 water-soluble B-complex vitamins.
It is found in :
- muscle tissue
- fish
- meat
- chickens
- peanuts
- yeasts
- and other
Here are some of the main uses and benefits of Nicotinamide .
Metabolic support. Nicotinamide is critical for fat, carbohydrate and protein metabolism, contributing to energy production at the cellular level.
Skin. Applied topically, it helps improve the appearance of the skin by reducing redness, dark spots, and signs of aging. It also stimulates ceramide production, improving hydration and the skin barrier.
Deficiencies. Niacinamide supplementation can prevent and treat vitamin B3 deficiencies, which can lead to disorders such as pellagra, characterized by dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia.
Anti-inflammatory. Niacinamide has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, useful in treating skin conditions such as acne and eczema.
Brain. Studies indicate that Niacinamide may have beneficial effects on brain health, helping to protect against neurodegenerative diseases.
Skin cancer risk. Research suggests that Niacinamide may reduce the risk of some types of skin cancer due to its protective properties.
Nicotinamide . Industrial process of chemical synthesis.
- Chemical Synthesis. The production of Nicotinamide begins with the chemical synthesis starting from nicotinonitrile as a precursor. Through a series of chemical reactions, nicotinonitrile is converted into Nicotinamide. These reactions may include hydrogenation or hydrolysis in the presence of specific catalysts.
- Purification. After synthesis, the crude Nicotinamide is purified to remove impurities and by-products of the reaction. Purification can be achieved through techniques such as crystallization, distillation, or chromatography.
- Quality Control. The purified Nicotinamide undergoes rigorous quality control checks to ensure it meets the purity and safety standards required for pharmaceutical, nutritional, and cosmetic use. These tests can include spectroscopic analyses, chromatographic analyses, and purity tests.
- Formulation. Depending on the end use, Nicotinamide can be formulated into different preparations, such as powders, solutions, tablets, or capsules, or incorporated into cosmetic formulations.
Industrially it appears in the form of a white powder.

What it is used for and where
Cosmetics
In cosmetics it is used to soften the skin, treat acne. Its antimicrobial properties have protective, sebostatic and lightening effects on itching (1). It is usually well tolerated and is a safe product.
Skin conditioning agent - Mixed. This ingredient is responsible for modifying the condition of the skin when it is damaged or dry by reducing flaking and restoring elasticity.
Medical
About fifty years ago, Kaufman reported high doses of Nicotinamide to effectively treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Nowadays, after studies carried out on a significant number of cases, it is possible to confirm what Kaufman claimed, even though it cannot be assumed, at the moment, that Niacinamide can also be used for prevention (2)
The most relevant studies on this vitamin have been selected with a summary of the contents:
Molecular Formula C6H5NO2 C5H4NCOOH HOOC5H4N
Molecular Weight 123.111 g/mol
CAS 59-67-6
EC Number 200-441-0
UNII 2679MF687A
PubChem Substance ID 329823272
MDL number MFCD00006391
Beilstein Registry Number 109591
Synonyms:
- Nicotinic Acid
- niacin
- Pyridine-3-carboxylic acid
- Pellagrin
- 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid
- Akotin
- vitamin B3
- Daskil
- 3-Carboxypyridine
- Efacin
- Enduracin
- Pelonin
- Nicodelmine
- Linic
- Niconacid
- nicamin
- Pellagramin
- nicobid
- Direktan
- nicocap
- Niaspan
- nicolar
- Nicacid
- Bionic
- Nicangin
- Diacin
- Peviton