Niacinamide (1996) & Osteoarthritis

Learn more about osteoarthritis.

This NIH study examined the effects of niacinamide (Vitamin B3) on osteoarthritis in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

The researchers looked at 72 OA patients who were given either niacinamide or placebo for 12 weeks. They assessed the results by measuring impact and pain, range of motion and flexibility of joints, sed rate, blood count, liver functioning, uric acid, cholesterol and fasting blood sugar.

Overall impact showed an improvement by 29% in the patients on niacinamide and got worse by 10% for those on the placebo. While pain levels did not change, the niacinamide patients were able to reduce their inflammation-lowering medications by 13%. Erythrocyte sed rate decreased by 22% and joint mobility improved by 4.5 degrees compared to the placebo group. There were some mild side effects in 40% of the niacinamide group.

The researchers concluded that niacinamide may have a role in treating OA and that further evaluation is warranted.

Jonas WB, Rapoza CP, Blair WF, Office of Alternative Medicine, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

The effect of niacinamide on osteoarthritis: a pilot study, Inflamm Res. 1996 Jul;45(7):330-4.