How Much Niacin Is Okay During Pregnancy?
Niacin is an essential vitamin, also called vitamin B-3 or nicotinic acid. Your body uses it for turning food into energy, as well as for DNA, cell signaling and cell differentiation. Niacin is also prescribed by doctors to help lower LDL cholesterol, increase HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides. During pregnancy, you don't want to consume too much or too little niacin.
Recommended Intake
The recommended dietary intake set by the Food and Nutrition Board for niacin during pregnancy is 18 mg per day. The tolerable upper intake for adults is 35 mg per day. Niacin intake between these two amounts is acceptable during pregnancy. However, intakes above 35 mg per day have not been studied in pregnant women, so they are not generally recommended, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library.
- The recommended dietary intake set by the Food and Nutrition Board for niacin during pregnancy is 18 mg per day.
- The tolerable upper intake for adults is 35 mg per day.
Niacin Status During Pregnancy
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Niacin deficiency is also a concern during pregnancy, and it is relatively common according to a study published in 2002 in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition." The study found that deficiencies in niacin, thiamine, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6 and vitamin A were common in all three trimesters of pregnancy even with vitamin supplementation.
Therapeutic Doses
Therapeutic doses of niacin for lowering cholesterol or triglycerides can be as high as 6 g, which is much higher than the RDA. If you are taking niacin for high LDL or low HDL cholesterol, stop when you become pregnant. However, if you are taking niacin for high triglycerides, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor since triglycerides often increase during pregnancy.
Considerations
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Get at least the RDA for niacin from foods, including poultry, tuna, salmon, fortified cereals, legumes, yeast, green leafy vegetables and meats, and take a prenatal vitamin that contains niacin to ensure you get enough niacin during your pregnancy. However, do not take other niacin supplements without discussing it with your doctor since higher amounts of niacin may be dangerous.
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References
- Drugs.com: Niacin Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings
- eMedTV; Niacin and Pregnancy; Kristi Monson, PharmD, et al.; September 2008
- Merck Manuals; Niacin; August 2009
- Linus Pauling Institute; Niacin; Jane Higdon, Ph.D., et al.; June 2007
- National Institutes of Medicine Office of Dietary Supplements. Niacin Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated June 3, 2020.
- MedlinePlus. Niacin. Updated June 4, 2020.
- Boden WE, Probstfield JL, Anderson T, et al. Niacin in Patients with Low HDL Cholesterol Levels Receiving Intensive Statin Therapy. N Engl J Med. 2011;365(24):2255-2267. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1107579
- Morris MC, Evans DA, Bienias JL, et al. Dietary niacin and the risk of incident Alzheimer's disease and of cognitive decline. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004;75(8):1093-1099. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2003.025858
- Elam MB, Hunninghake DB, Davis KB, et al. Effect of Niacin on Lipid and Lipoprotein Levels and Glycemic Control in Patients With Diabetes and Peripheral Arterial Disease: The ADMIT Study: A Randomized Trial. JAMA. 2000;284(10):1263-1270. doi:10.1001/jama.284.10.1263
- Zhai G. Alteration of Metabolic Pathways in Osteoarthritis. Metabolites. 2019;9(1):11. doi:10.3390/metabo9010011
Writer Bio
Based in Massachusetts, Jessica Bruso has been writing since 2008. She holds a master of science degree in food policy and applied nutrition and a bachelor of arts degree in international relations, both from Tufts University.