Niacin / Nicotinic Acid
(Vitamin B3 / Vitamin PP)
Niacin (also called Nicotinic Acid) and Niacinamide (also called Nicotinamide), two compounds of water-soluble vitamin B complex, are active in the metabolism of body. Chemically they are 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid and 3-Pyridinecarboxamide respectively. Commercially, niacin is obtained from beta -picoline or from quinoline, which are both obtainable from coal tar.
Niacinamide, more water soluble, is the amide form of niacin. When an amide molecule attaches itself to niacin, it becomes niacinamide. The B vitamins niacin and niacinamide are known as preventives of pellagra. Niacin is interchangeable in metabolism with its amide, niacinamide. Nicotinamide is hydrolyzed to the acid in the digestive tract of non-ruminants. After absorption in the mucosa, the amide is formed again. In the rumen of ruminants, nicotinamide is converted in a short time to nicotinic acid.
Nicotinamide and nicotinic acid are therefore equivalent in action in the case of farm animals. These are key ingredients in animal feed and animal feed premixes as these contribute to numerous metabolic reactions as hydrogen transferring coenzymes. Niacin acts to reduce plasma cholesterol, as a vasodilator and to treat pellagra. Niacin is used for the prophylaxis. Their derivatives are used for these effects.
Basic information
Item
Index
Chemical Name
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid; Nicotinic acid; Nicotinipca; Pyridine-モ-carboxylic acid; Vitamin B; 3-Carboxylpyridine; 3-Carboxypyridine; anti-Pellagra vitamin; Acidum nicotinicum; Nicotine acid; Pyridine-3-carbonic acid; Pyridine-3-carboxylic acid; Kyselina nikotinova; Nicotinoylhydrazine; Nicotinsaure (German); Pyridine-carboxylique-3; M-pyridinecarboxylic Acid; Acide Nicotinique (French); Pyridine-carboxylique-3 (French); 烟酸(Chinese);
Molecular Formula
C6H5NO2
Chemical Formula
Molecular Weight
123.11
CAS No.
59-67-6
EINECS NO.
200-441-0
Physical Properties
White or yellowish crystal or crystalline powder, odorless or slightly odoriferous, being acid in aqueous solution; Soluble in boiling water or ethanol, slightly soluble in water, sparingly soluble in ether, and easily soluble in carbonate solutions and alkali solutions
Stability
Stable under ordinary conditions
NFPA rating
Health: 1 Flammability: 1 Reactivity: 0
Application
feed additive, pharmaceuticals, food enrichment, animal mixes for livestock
BP2003
In conformity with the standard of BP2003Item
Index
Appearance
white crystalline powder
Solubility
Complies
Related Substances
Complies
Assay [C6H5NO2]，%
99.0-101.0
Melting Point, ℃
234-240
Chloride, %
0.02 max.
Loss on Drying, %
1.0 max.
Sulphated Ash，％
0.1 max.
Heavy Metals，%
0.002 max.
USP29
In conformity
