liver
Pathways
Studies (7)
Dietary Niacin Intake Predicts the Decrease of Liver Fat Content During a Lifestyle Intervention
In 58 patients with fatty liver disease, the ones with the most niacin in their diet had the most favorable outcome, with a 37% reduction in liver fat after 9 months of lifestyle interventions, vs only 10% reduction in the patients eating the least niacin.
Dietary nicotinic acid supplementation improves hepatic zinc uptake and offers hepatoprotection against oxidative damage
In rats, supplementing with high levels of nicotinic acid in diet before experiencing cell damage (induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide injections) helped protect the liver, preserving its normal structure and improving its ability to absorb zinc, a beneficial element. This effect was less pronounced if the NA was increased after the cell damage had occurred. Rats with a deficiency of nicotinic acid in their diet exhibited the highest level of liver damage.
Bacterial PncA improves diet-induced NAFLD in mice by enabling the transition from nicotinamide to nicotinic acid
Gut bacteria play an important role in NAD production. NAD boosting effect of oral NAM (nicotinamide) NR (nicotinamide riboside) is largely dependent on gut bacteria breaking them down to nicotinic acid, and that nicotinic acid being processed via Preiss Handler pathway. Nicotinic acid highly efficient at boosting NAD in mammals.
Niacin regresses collagen content in human hepatic stellate cells from liver transplant donors with fibrotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Taking niacin ~1-3g daily clears up liver collagen and fat deposits which are associated with liver disease. It also prevents them from forming.
Niacin Cures Systemic NAD + Deficiency and Improves Muscle Performance in Adult-Onset Mitochondrial Myopathy
Patients with mitochondrial myopathy (which is associated with NAD+ deficiency) received ~1g niacin daily for 4 months. This resulting in increasing blood NAD+ levels in all patients, up to 8x, improved muscle strength, improved respiratory chain activity and reduced fatty liver.
Niacin fine-tunes energy homeostasis through canonical GPR109A signaling
When fed a high fat diet + niacin, mice deficient in niacin receptor GPR109A got fat and had fatty livers. While mice with normal GPR109A receptors didn't get fat and didn't end up with fatty livers.
Niacin for treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): novel use for an old drug?
39 patients taking 2g/day extended release niacin for ~6 months had a ~40% reduction in liver fat. Other markers of inflammation such as CRP (C-reactive protein) where also reduced.