B3 advice

[GardeningDorset123]

My consultant told me Moofields are doing a trial on B3..he suggested I take it..but..I have bought 500 mg tablets .. how many should I take help!!

[Sussex-M]

Hello the original study that has led to the upcoming UK trial took place in Auz. The type of B3 is Nicotinamide which is important as other types (Niacin) with the level of dose apparently gives a flush type reaction. I have included a link. The dose was up to 3grams per day, so 6 tablets. This had a positive effect for a number of people in the study control group. cera.org.au/vitamin-b3-tria... . I have been taking for a year now with no adverse effects. Amazon has multiple suppliers of B3 Nicotinamide to help keep the cost down. gandgvitamins.com/ - cheaper on Amazon than direct to supplier.

[GardeningDorset123 in reply to Sussex-M]

You are SO kind thank you

[1inana]

I would ask a pharmacist, GardeningDorset, B3 is Niacin which can have side effects especially if you have diabetes or liver problems.

[Stairs10]

Hi. Could you ask the consultant what dose and form of the vitamin is recommended? It would also help your consultant and GP to know what you are taking in case it has a bearing on your treatment / other medications.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello GardeningDorset123. Professor Gus Gazzrd of Moorfield mentions B3 on his talk on Normal Tension Glaucoma. You can find the talk on our Youtube channel. It can also be found on our Facebook page.

[blackdog76]

The trial used a precursor to Nicotinamide Aldehyde Dinucleotide (NAD+) which was Nicotinamide Mononucleotide which is available at reasonable cost either as a capsule or as a sublingual lozenge (melts under the tongue and is absorbed into the sublingual vein). NAD+ is available at quite enormous cost but there is NO evidence that it can be absorbed in the active form by the oral route. Some molecules are too big without modification to be absorbed.

So in most studies to date that largely involved rodents NAM was used. There is also Nicotinamide Riboside but the view is that it is also not easily absorbed and NAM is changed into that form after absorbtion and then into NAD+. However there is some conjecture about this so far and although the Melbourne study was very encouraging there is quite a long way to go as yet.

Having been a patient peer reviewer for the BMJ since 2014 as well as biologist (a long time ago), what I have said thus far is the 'party line', but some of us do not have that much time left that we want to wait, and generally speaking there seems to be little in the way of adverse effects at doses of 1.5 gm per day. But in all things that we take into our body, exercise caution and titrate the dose up to the one you wish to achieve slowly and see if you have any adverse side effects, such as intestinal disturbance, pains or anything that changes once you commence dosing. Always remember: change only one thing at a time, so that you know what is giving you any problems.

You also have to factor in the distinct possibility that there will be opposition from those in the Ophthalmology mainstream as we are neither talking about a drug, eyedrop (also usually a drug), or procedure that could be patented. So there will be a number of those who make their living from the existing only (they believe), modifiable symptom of glaucoma, of lowering IOP. This is especially so in the very large cohort of Consultants undertaking private treatment (which seems to be most if not all of them), who are making a very handsome living from the current situation. Certainly that is the case where I am a patient. I actually have not seen a Consultant face to face since November 2019.

I am currently taking 1.5 gm of NAM myself and it does not seem to cause many problems and there are some signs that it is helping my arthritis and possibly my vision, but as I am registered as blind almost anything is an improvement, but it is early days and I have not moved the dose upwards yet at four weeks of intake.

Good ;uck to all who wish to try NAM and may it fulfill its promise.

[GardeningDorset123 in reply to blackdog76]

Thank you so very much for your help and your thoughtful reply ..and the time you took! Yes you are right...I have had to go privately to consultant as I am stable at the moment and I got really scared. My mother was registered blind. I asked the consultant how much B3 to take and got short shrift ... so thank you again.. I want to do anything sensible I can... so I'll take six 500 a day .. and watch my reaction ..Best wishes

[Spanieldoglover in reply to blackdog76]

Hi blackdog76 I just wondered if you have the name of the particular NAM you are taking please? Sorry if this is a silly question, but looking at B3 supplements there seems to be a lot of different types.

[blackdog76 in reply to Spanieldoglover]

It is Nicotinamide Mononucleotide abbreviated to NAM. That is the widely available under that name from supplement suppliers and of course the ubiquitous Amazon.

Most will be capsules of 500mg but there are a few other options such as sublingual (inder the tongue) in both capsule and liquid. A number of people say that the latter is the quickest route but obviously some of the liquid generated will be absorbed by the inside of the cheeks (buccal absorption), but quite a bit will be swallowed. So, I tend to think that oral capsules are the best.

Do not bother with NAD+ itself (see my earlier reply) as it would be enormously expensive to buy enough for even 500mg a day as that would be about 20 capsules as NAD+ is normally sold in 20mg capsules. So you would get through about 60 per day for 1500mg which about £50 or more for 60. There is also doubt that the dodys own d form of Nicotinamide NAD+ can actually be absorbed by the oral route as it is a bit like trying to swallow insulin instead of injecting it. So stick with the precursor NAM which is (in theory,) rapidly converted into NAD+ in the small intestine and the liver as it is the form used at cellular level to work its 'magic', of regeneration.

As it is likely to be some weeks before you see any tangible results do not despair, as it is going to be a long haul even if it works fully as it seems to promise. Good luck!

[Spanieldoglover in reply to blackdog76]

Thank you for your reply blackdog I will give them a go.

[GardeningDorset123 in reply to blackdog76]

The ones I have got are B3 nicotinamide 500 mg..are these right please

[muddledme]

Hello Gardening Dorset 123,

Yes, this research does sound very hopeful. It was also mentioned in the last Glaucoma UK webinar on 22.2.22 by Dr Hari Jayaram who talked about a follow up B3 trial at Moorfields.

He asked for volunteers to complete a form available online, then ask your GP to send Moorfields your medical records . I have just written to my G.P to request this( apologising for taking up their time) The records are sent to ; [e-mail].

I have ordered some Vit B3 Nicotinamide in capsule form without Magnesium Stearate.

The Mag Stearate is put into so many tablets as a filler but after a few days or weeks always gives me a constant headache. This reaction is not uncommon. So please be careful.

Best wishes

[AlfredV]

I read blackdog76's comment with interest. I'm always keen to know the mechanism behind such claims, and in this instance it is about increasing NAD+ levels. Here's an interesting study:

fightaging.org/archives/202...

Ten Weeks of Resistance Training in 60-Year-Olds Doubles NAD+ Levels in Muscle Tissue.

I have problems with a lot of supplements and I've checked B3 food sources and I'm consuming quite a bit (liver, meat, eggs, fish, nuts are staples of my diet), but I could certainly do more in the exercise department.

[Stairs10]

hi again just seen the following link on glaucoma UK website

glaucoma.uk/news/major-gran...