Pharmacological doses of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide are independently metabolized in rats.

Two compounds are known as the vitamin niacIn: nicotinic acid (NiA) and nicotinamide (Nam). The physiological functions and metabolic fates of NiA and Nam are identical, but differ when pharmacological doses are administered. Our study aimed to investigate the metabolic interactions between NiA and Nam when their pharmacological doses were administered together. We measured seven major niacin catabolites, including NiA, Nam, N(1)-methylnicotinamide (MNA), N(1)-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2-Py), N(1)-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide (4-Py), Nam N-oxide, and nicotinuric acid (NuA). Under physiological conditions, niacin is chiefly catabolized to 4-Py via MNA. However, this was not the primary pathway when rats were fed a diet containing excess niacin. When rats were fed a diet containing excess NiA, NuA was the major catabolite, and on being fed a diet containing excess Nam, MNA was the major catabolite. When rats were fed a diet containing an excess of both NiA and Nam, MNA and NuA were the major catabolites. The metabolic fates of excess NiA and Nam did not mutually interfere. Therefore, the administration of NiA and Nam together may be better than the administration of NiA or Nam alone because different pharmacological effects are expected.