EFSA draft opinion on niacin (vitamin B3): 13.2 to 16.5 mg daily

By Shane Starling

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Niacin

EFSA draft opinion on niacin (vitamin B3): 13.2 to 16.5 mg daily
EFSA has recommended a population reference intake (PRI) of between 13.2 and 16.5 mg of niacin equivalent (NE) for Europeans, in a new draft opinion.

The PRI - an ideal level for the majority of people - of 1.6 mg, and a 1.3 mg average requirement (AR – a level that applies to at least half of the population) is being proposed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA).

It is proposed for adults, infants and children, pregnant and lactating women as a niacin equivalent (NE) after synthesis in the body from the amino acid, tryptophan and consideration of calorie intake.

When that calculation is made, this equates to an AR of 5.5 mg NE per 1000 kcal consumed, and a PRI of 6.6 mg NE/1 000 kcal. So for a child or woman who consumes 2000 calories per day the NE would be 13.2 mg per day as a PRI. For a man who consumes 2500 kcal per day the NE level would be 16.5 mg per day.

Stakeholder input is requested for the water soluble vitamin during a consultation period​ that closes on March 28, 2014.

The Panel said little had changed since a previous assessment in 1993 carried out by the predecessor to EFSA, the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF).

Niacin deficiency can lead to a condition called pellagra, symptoms of which include diarrhea, dermatitis and dementia.

Niacin is typically found in meat, nuts, grains and milk.

This synthesis can be affected by iron, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B6, protein and calorie intake.

Niacin is a generic term for nicotinic acid and nicotinamide.

EU dietary surveys show average total pure niacin intakes range from 27 to 55 mg/day for adult men, slightly less in children and women.

The draft opinion can be found here​.

US Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for sit at 14 mg/day for women and 16 mg/day for men.

Correction: This article has been amended because the levels proposed by EFSA were measured as niacin equivalent (NE) which factors in bodily tryptophan conversion and calorie intake, not just niacin as originally stated.

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2 comments

This is a codex compiant BS

Posted by anon,

this is hilarious--the efsa is really this stupid---or is it this controlled---under codex which the efsa is complying to there is a mandate to reduce the effect of vitamins and nutrients in foods and now europe is also being attacked with this stupidty---who voted for this efsa--who gave them this authority to strip the rights of europeans to make there own choices---who asked them to be the safe guard of health--they truly have no idea and there experts are assinine there is citations by the thousands showing the effectiveness of B3 to reduce fatty liver-cholesterol-increase nadh and extend the cellular life and yet here this is going to minimize proper access and usage---I hope europeans overthrow this system or even make there own market and sell what they deem illegal and run it right up there arse
Anin

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Wrong citation of requirement!

Posted by Dr. Volker Veitl,

The right citation of requirement is 1,6 and 1,3 mg/MJ! For a reference person with daily intake of 2000 kcal a Niacin intake of approx. 13 mg/d is necessary. This value finally is comparable to US Reference of 14 md/d or 16 mg/d!

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