Vitamin B3 is also known as niacin or niacinamide, if you’re checking the label on your hair products. A study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information(NCBI) tested the topical application of two niacin derivatives—octyl nicotinate and tetradecyl nicotinate—and found that these derivatives demonstrated a significant increase in the appearance of hair fullness in female alopecia.
Aside from hair fullness, another study from the NCBI found a leave-on technology containing niacinamide resulted in increased hair suppleness and a better ability to withstand force without breaking.
Niacin is a B vitamin that's made and used by your body to turn food into energy. It helps keep your nervous system, digestive system and skin healthy. Niacin (vitamin B-3) is often part of a daily multivitamin, but most people get enough niacin from the food they eat.
Recommended Amounts
Niacin is measured in milligrams (mg) of niacin equivalents (NE). One NE equals 1 milligram of niacin or 60 mg of tryptophan. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults 19+ years is 16 mg NE for men, 14 mg NE for women, 18 mg NE for pregnant women, and 17 mg NE for lactating women.
Source:
L'Oréal,
Harvard
T.H. Chan
