Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

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Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Vitamin B3, or niacin, is an essential vitamin required for processing fat in the body, lowering cholesterol levels, and regulating blood sugar levels.

A deficiency of niacin leads to pellagra, a condition characterized by diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, inflammation of the mouth, amnesia, delirium, and if left untreated, death. Even a slight deficiency of niacin can lead to irritability, poor concentration, anxiety, fatigue, restlessness, apathy, and depression.

Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin that is well regulated by the body, thus overdose is rare and only occurs when niacin is taken in the form of supplements. An overdose of niacin is seen in the form of skin rashes (flush), dry skin, and various digestive maladies. A long-term overdose can lead to liver damage, elevated blood sugar levels, and type II diabetes, as well as an increased risk of birth defects.

High niacin foods include fish, chicken, turkey, pork, beef, mushrooms, brown rice, peanuts, avocados, green peas, and avocados. The current daily value (DV) for niacin is 16mg.

Below are the top 10 foods highest in niacin ranked by common serving sizes. For more, see the complete list of 200 foods high in niacin, and lists of other foods high in B vitamins.

List of High Niacin Foods

Tuna Fillet1 Tuna (Yellowfin)
Niacin
in a 6oz Fillet
Niacin
per 100g
Niacin
per 200 Calories
37.5mg
(234% DV)
22.1mg
(138% DV)
34mg
(212% DV)

More Fish High in Niacin

  • 112% DV in a 6oz fillet of bluefin tuna
  • 108% DV in a 6oz fillet of salmon
  • 62% DV in 3oz of canned tuna

See all fish high in niacin.

A roast chicken2 Lean Chicken Breast
Niacin
in a 6oz Breast
Niacin
per 100g
Niacin
per 200 Calories
16.1mg
(100% DV)
9.5mg
(59% DV)
12mg
(75% DV)

More Poultry High in Niacin

  • 133% DV in 6oz of ground turkey
  • 50% DV in a chicken thigh
  • 35% DV in a chicken drumstick

See all meats high in niacin.

A pork chop3 Lean Pork Chops
Niacin
in a 6oz Chop
Niacin
per 100g
Niacin
per 200 Calories
13.6mg
(85% DV)
8mg
(50% DV)
8.2mg
(51% DV)

More Pork Products High in Niacin

  • 78% DV in 6oz of pork tenderloin
  • 54% DV in 1 cup of cured ham
  • 24% DV in 3 slices of bacon

See all meats high in niacin.

A steak on a plate4 Beef (Skirt Steak)
Niacin
per 6oz Steak
Niacin
per 100g
Niacin
per 200 Calories
9.5mg
(60% DV)
5.6mg
(35% DV)
4.2mg
(26% DV)

More Red Meat High in Niacin

  • 45% DV in 3oz of roast beef
  • 36% DV in 3oz of lamb ribs
  • 34% DV in a 3oz lamb shank serving

See all meats high in niacin.

Portobello Mushrooms5 Portabella Mushrooms
Niacin
per Cup Sliced
Niacin
per 100g
Niacin
per 200 Calories
7.6mg
(47% DV)
6.3mg
(39% DV)
43.1mg
(270% DV)

More Mushrooms High in Niacin

  • 43% DV in 1 cup of white button mushrooms
  • 29% DV in 1 cup of miatake mushrooms
  • 27% DV in 1 cup of oyster mushrooms

See all vegetables high in niacin.

Brown Rice6 Brown Rice
Niacin
per Cup
Niacin
per 100g
Niacin
per 200 Calories
5.2mg
(32% DV)
2.6mg
(16% DV)
4.2mg
(26% DV)

More Whole Grains High in Niacin

  • 25% DV in 1 cup of kamut
  • 23% DV in 1 cup of whole wheat pasta
  • 16% DV in 1 tbsp of rice bran
  • 13% DV in 1 cup of wild rice
  • 11% DV in 1 cup of cornmeal (grits)

See all grains high in niacin.

Peanuts7 Peanuts (Dry Roasted)
Niacin
per Oz
Niacin
per 100g
Niacin
per 200 Calories
4.1mg
(25% DV)
14.4mg
(90% DV)
4.9mg
(31% DV)

More Nuts and Seeds High in Niacin*

  • 16% DV in 1oz of hemp and chia seeds
  • 15% DV per 1oz of sunflower seeds
  • 8% DV in 1oz of pine nuts

See all nuts and seeds high in niacin.

*We are aware that peanuts are actually legumes, however they are nuts in the culinary sense.

Half an avocado8 Avocados
Niacin
per Avocado
Niacin
per 100g
Niacin
per 200 Calories
3.5mg
(22% DV)
1.7mg
(11% DV)
2.2mg
(14% DV)

More Fruits High in Niacin

  • 11% DV in 1 cup of guavas
  • 10% DV in 1 cup of nectarines
  • 8% DV in 1 cup of melons

See all fruits high niacin.

Green Peas9 Green Peas
Niacin
per Cup Cooked
Niacin
per 100g
Niacin
per 200 Calories
3.2mg
(20% DV)
2mg
(13% DV)
4.8mg
(30% DV)

More Vegetables High in Niacin

  • 16% DV in 1 cup of sweet corn
  • 15% DV in a medium baked potato
  • 12% DV in 1 cup of butternut squash

See all vegetables high in niacin.

Sweet Potatoes10 Sweet Potatoes
Niacin
per Cup Mashed
Niacin
per 100g
Niacin
per 200 Calories
2.4mg
(15% DV)
1mg
(6% DV)
1.9mg
(12% DV)

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Printable List of the Top 10 Foods Highest in Niacin (B3)

Health Benefits of Niacin (Vitamin B3)

  • Protect Against Heart Disease - Niacin is prescribed pharmacologically to lower LDL fats and triglycerides by preventing the breakdown of fats into these individual components. Niacin consumed at such high levels can cause rashes, headaches, nausea, and diarrhea. Consult your doctor before taking niacin supplements in high doses.(2,3)
  • Regulation of Blood Sugar and Insulin Dependence (*Controversial) - Studies suggest that vitamin B3 (niacin) can help decrease insulin sensitivity,(4) however, other studies find no difference.(5) Niacin has also been shown to help alleviate some of the destructive autoimmune reactions of type I diabetes, and further studies are being conducted to assess its effectiveness.(5)
  • Reduced Cancer Risk - Studies show that niacin reduces cancer risk by ensuring DNA integrity and maintenance, and through proper regulation of the tumor suppressor gene: p53.(6-8)
  • Slow the progression of AIDS - An observational study has reported slowing the progression of AIDS and increasing survival with high doses of niacin.(9)

People at Risk of a Niacin (Vitamin B3) Deficiency

  • People with HIV/AIDS - The body's immune system creates a specific cytokine, interferon gamma, which breaks down tryptophan, a precursor of niacin. Studies show that HIV patients who take increased levels of niacin slow the progression of AIDS.(9-11)
  • People who eat high amounts of refined foods - Bran, which is high in vitamin b3, is typically removed during any refining process. Anyone who eats high amounts of white bread, white rice, corn syrup, or other refined products will not receive adequate amounts of niacin. Even though most of these foods are now fortified, it is still best to eat unrefined food products.

Other Vitamin B Foods

About the Data

Data for the curated food lists comes from the USDA Food Data Central Repository.

You can check our data against the USDA by clicking the (Source) link at the bottom of each food listing.

Note: When checking data please be sure the serving sizes are the same. In the rare case you find any difference, please contact us and we will fix it right away.

About Nutrient Targets

Setting targets can provide a guide to healthy eating.

Some of the most popular targets include:
  • Daily Value (%DV) - The daily value (%DV) is a general guideline for consumption that will prevent deficiency of a particular nutrient in most people. The %DV refers to the percentage of an amount that's found in a single serving of a food. It also accounts for absorption factors. It is set by the U.S. FDA.
  • Recommended Dietary Allowance (%RDA) - The RDA sets an average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97.5%) healthy individuals. It's more specific than the daily value, and varies by age and gender. The RDA is set by the US National Instutites of Health.
  • Reference Dietary Intake (%RDI) -The reference dietary intake is similar to the recommended daily allowance, but is specific to age and gender. The RDI for amino acids is set by the U.N. World Health Organization.
  • Adequate Intake (%AI) - This value is primarily used in reference to omega-3 and omega-6 fats. The Adequate Intake is set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. Because there is less evidence to determine the ideal targets for consumption of these nutrients, the specific amount is considered to be less reliable. Using the term Adequate Intake, rather than one of the other terms, helps to emphasize that the ideal intake of that particular nutrient has not yet been scientifically determined.

See the Guide to Recommended Daily Intakes for more information.

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Data Sources and References

  1. U.S. Agricultural Research Service Food Data Central
  2. "Guidelines for Niacin Therapy For the Treatment of Elevated Lipoprotein a (Lpa)". Rush Hemophilia & Thrombophilia Center. August 15, 2002, Revised July 27, 2005. Retrieved 20 November 2009. "facial flushing is a common side effect of niacin therapy that usually subsides after several weeks of consistent niacin use"
  3. Katzung, Bertram G. (2006). Basic and clinical pharmacology. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division. ISBN 0071451536.
  4. Greenbaum CJ, Kahn SE, Palmer JP. Nicotinamide's effects on glucose metabolism in subjects at risk for IDDM. Diabetes. 1996;45(11):1631-1634.
  5. Lampeter EF, Klinghammer A, Scherbaum WA, et al. The Deutsche Nicotinamide Intervention Study: an attempt to prevent type 1 diabetes. DENIS Group. Diabetes. 1998;47(6):980-984.
  6. Hageman GJ, Stierum RH. Niacin, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 and genomic stability. Mutat Res. 2001;475(1-2):45-56.
  7. Jacobson EL, Shieh WM, Huang AC. Mapping the role of NAD metabolism in prevention and treatment of carcinogenesis. Mol Cell Biochem. 1999;193(1-2):69-74.
  8. Weitberg AB. Effect of nicotinic acid supplementation in vivo on oxygen radical-induced genetic damage in human lymphocytes. Mutat Res. 1989;216(4):197-201.
  9. Tang AM, Graham NM, Saah AJ. Effects of micronutrient intake on survival in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. Am J Epidemiol. 1996;143(12):1244-1256.
  10. Brown RR, Ozaki Y, Datta SP, Borden EC, Sondel PM, Malone DG. Implications of interferon-induced tryptophan catabolism in cancer, auto-immune diseases and AIDS. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1991;294:425-435.
  11. Murray MF, Langan M, MacGregor RR. Increased plasma tryptophan in HIV-infected patients treated with pharmacologic doses of nicotinamide. Nutrition. 2001;17(7-8):654-656.
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