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Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Niacin vitamin B3

Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Niacin is a water-soluble B vitamin that helps the body convert food into energy and supports the digestive system, skin and nerves. The body does not store it, so it needs a regular supply from foods such as milk, eggs, fish, lean meat, poultry, legumes, peanuts and enriched breads and cereals. Recommended intake is 16 mg a day for men and 14 mg a day for women, rising to 18 mg during pregnancy and 17 mg while breastfeeding (MedlinePlus).

Niacin in the Stamets Stack

Niacin is the third ingredient in the Paul Stamets stack, which combines a psilocybin microdose with lion’s mane and niacin. The reason usually given for including niacin is that its flush helps carry the other compounds through the body. That idea has not been tested directly.

What the Research Shows

The main study of the stack is an observational study published in 2022 that tracked 953 people who microdosed psilocybin and 180 who did not. People who took psilocybin together with lion’s mane and niacin showed greater improvement on a finger-tapping test of psychomotor speed than those taking psilocybin alone, but only among participants aged 55 and over. Adding lion’s mane and niacin made no difference to mood or mental health scores (Rootman et al., 2022).

The authors stress that the findings need replication. Participants chose what to take and knew what they were taking, the age subgroups were small, and doses were not measured. Paul Stamets was a co-author and has disclosed financial interests, including pending patents on combining psilocybin, lion’s mane and niacin (Rootman et al., 2022). Our microdosing guide covers the wider evidence.

Flushing and Safety

At high doses, niacin can cause flushing (warmth, redness, itching or tingling in the face, neck, arms or upper chest), as well as higher blood sugar, liver damage, peptic ulcers and skin rashes. Avoiding hot drinks and alcohol with niacin can reduce flushing. The niacinamide and nicotinamide forms do not appear to cause these side effects (MedlinePlus).

Our Neuro Blend capsules list 40 mg of niacinamide, the non-flushing form. Speak to a healthcare provider before taking high-dose niacin, particularly if you have diabetes, liver disease or a history of ulcers.

References