Dietary Reference Intakes: Vitamin B3 (niacin)

Special Note

[recommendations reflect vitamin B3 intake from all sources]

Info: expressed as niacin equivalents (NE); 1 mg NE = 1 mg niacin = 60 mg tryptophan

General Information

[primary functions]

coenzyme in numerous oxidation-reduction reactions, including intracellular respiration and fatty acid synthesis

[selected sources]

meat, fish, poultry, whole grains

Dietary Reference Intake

[0-6 mo]

2 mg/day; Info: upper limit not established; only sources of intake should be breastmilk, formula, and food

[7-11 mo]

4 mg/day; Info: upper limit not established; only sources of intake should be breastmilk, formula, and food

[1-3 yo]

6 mg/day; Info: intake >10 mg/day from supplements or fortified foods associated with incr. adverse effects

[4-8 yo]

8 mg/day; Info: intake >15 mg/day from supplements or fortified foods associated with incr. adverse effects

[9-13 yo]

12 mg/day; Info: intake >20 mg/day from supplements or fortified foods associated with incr. adverse effects

[14-18 yo, females]

14 mg/day; Info: incr. to 18 mg/day if pregnant, 17 mg/day if breastfeeding; intake >30 mg/day from supplements or fortified foods associated with incr. adverse effects

[14-18 yo, males]

16 mg/day; Info: intake >30 mg/day from supplements or fortified foods associated with incr. adverse effects

[19 yo and older, females]

14 mg/day; Info: incr. to 18 mg/day if pregnant, 17 mg/day if breastfeeding; intake >35 mg/day from supplements or fortified foods associated with incr. adverse effects

[19 yo and older, males]

16 mg/day; Info: intake >35 mg/day from supplements or fortified foods associated with incr. adverse effects