Niacin

Niacin, or vitamin B3, plays an important role in maintaining metabolism in the body. Niacin is involved in the process of converting food into energy, which is especially valuable for those following a keto diet. With reduced carbohydrate intake, the body begins to use fats as the primary source of energy. Niacin helps break down fats into smaller molecules, which promotes the process of ketosis. A deficiency in nia…

Form And Absorption

For vitamins and active forms, food source, supplement form and lab marker should be separated. Absorption depends on digestion, bile flow, gut status, medications, alcohol and pre-existing deficiency.

How To Use It In Diet

On keto and LCHF, deficiencies are more often linked with monotonous eating than with carbohydrate restriction itself. Meat, fish, eggs, liver, greens, fermented foods and targeted supplements based on labs are safer than random high doses.

When Testing Helps

Testing is especially useful with fatigue, anemia, neurological symptoms, hair loss, cycle disruption, pregnancy, gastrointestinal disease, metformin, acid-suppressing medication or after bariatric surgery. It helps separate true deficiency from the wish to take “something for energy”.

What To Avoid

Starting several high-dose supplements at once is unhelpful because benefit, side effects and interactions become hard to understand. Fat-soluble vitamins, active B-vitamin forms, iron and iodine require particular care because excess can also cause problems.