Vitamin B3, also known as niacin or vitamin PP, is one of the eight B vitamins. It is water-soluble: the body does not store it in large amounts and needs a regular supply from food. It is found in particular in meat, poultry, fish, mushrooms, pulses and wholegrain cereals.

Its role is recognised by European regulations. Niacin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system and to normal psychological function. Finally, it contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes.

In the body, vitamin B3 is used to make two coenzymes, NAD and NADP, which take part in many metabolic reactions. That is why it appears in almost every B-vitamin formula. Nutripure has made a different choice: it isolates vitamin B3 on its own, without the other B vitamins, for people who want a targeted intake. We offer it in Paris alongside our B-vitamin complexes, so that everyone can choose the formula that suits them.

On a supplement label, vitamin B3 can appear in several forms. The two most common are nicotinic acid and niacinamide, also called nicotinamide. They are two forms of the same vitamin, grouped by the regulations under the name niacin, but they do not behave in quite the same way.

Taken in large amounts, nicotinic acid can cause some people to feel a passing sensation of warmth and redness of the skin, mainly on the face: this is known as the “flush”. Niacinamide does not have this effect. Nutripure therefore chose niacinamide exclusively, so that it is comfortable to take every day.

The word may sound familiar: niacinamide is also an ingredient often found in creams and serums. Here it is taken orally, as a capsule, in the form of a food supplement. Questions about this form come up often in our shop in Paris 12th, which is why we take the time to explain the difference clearly.

Each capsule provides 54 mg of vitamin B3 as niacinamide. The reference intakes used for labelling supplements in Europe are set at 16 mg per day for niacin. One capsule therefore covers 337% of these reference intakes.

This is a higher dose than in a standard multivitamin, without being a massive one. To put it in perspective, the European Food Safety Authority has set the tolerable upper intake level for nicotinamide at 900 mg per day for adults: one capsule is a small fraction of that. Nutripure also states that one capsule a day is enough and that there is no need to take more.

If you already take a multivitamin or a B-vitamin complex, it makes sense to add up your intake. The brand says its vitamin B3 can be combined with its own multivitamin. If you are unsure about combining products, or if you are on medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

The ingredient list fits on one line: niacinamide, acacia gum, coconut flour and the capsule shell, made of pullulan. Pullulan is a polysaccharide obtained by fermentation that replaces animal gelatine: the capsule is therefore 100% plant-based and suitable for a vegan diet.

Acacia gum and coconut flour act as excipients, in other words as a carrier that allows the capsule to be filled evenly. Nutripure does without the flow agents often found in capsules, such as magnesium stearate or silicon dioxide. The formula is also gluten-free and GMO-free.

The jar contains 90 capsules, i.e. three months at one capsule a day. The capsules are small and easy to swallow with a simple glass of water, and the jar slips easily into a bag if you split your week between Paris and time away.

Take one capsule a day with a glass of water. Nutripure recommends taking it in the middle of a meal, preferably in the morning or at lunchtime. The exact time matters less than regularity: it is best to choose a time that suits you and stick to it every day.

The brand recommends a three-month course, which matches the length of one jar. It can be continued beyond that according to your needs, ideally with the advice of a healthcare professional. Vitamin B3 goes well with the other B vitamins and with minerals such as magnesium or zinc.

The simplest way not to forget your capsule is to link it to a habit you already have, always the same one. Many customers who visit our shop in Paris 12th simply leave the jar next to the coffee maker or the bread basket.

A varied diet usually provides vitamin B3, but some people look for a targeted additional intake. Nutripure has in mind in particular active people with busy days, students during exam periods, athletes who train regularly and older adults who keep an eye on their diet.

It also appeals to those who prefer an isolated vitamin B3 to a B-vitamin complex, for example because they already take a multivitamin low in niacin, or because they want a specific form, here niacinamide. And since niacin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin, the subject of skin often comes up when people ask us about it in our shop in Paris.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should seek the advice of a healthcare professional before taking any supplement. Keep the jar out of reach of children; this supplement is not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Nutripure was founded in 2017 by Christophe Carrio, five-time world champion in artistic karate and holder of a dietetics diploma, together with his brother Florent, an engineer. The company is based in Haute-Garonne, near Toulouse, and has its products made in France.

The brand has built its reputation on transparency: short formulas, carefully chosen excipients and a traceability sheet published for every product. This vitamin B3 is manufactured in accordance with the EN 17444 anti-doping standard, which matters to athletes subject to testing.

It is this seriousness that convinced us to stock Nutripure in our shop in Paris 12th, at 10 rue Théophile Roussel, a few minutes’ walk from Ledru-Rollin (line 8) and Bastille (lines 1, 5, 8) metro stations, alongside the other French brands we have been following for a long time.

What is the difference between niacin, nicotinamide and niacinamide?

Niacin is the generic name for vitamin B3. It exists in two main forms: nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, also known as niacinamide. Nutripure’s Vitamin B3 contains niacinamide only.

How long does a jar last?

The jar contains 90 capsules. At one capsule a day, it lasts three months, which is the course length recommended by Nutripure.

Can I take it with a multivitamin or a B-vitamin complex?

Yes, the brand states that it can be combined with its multivitamin. Simply add up the vitamin B3 provided by your different supplements, and ask a healthcare professional for advice if you are on medication.

Is the capsule suitable for a vegan diet?

Yes. The capsule shell is made of pullulan, which is plant-based, and the other ingredients are acacia gum and coconut flour. The formula is vegan, gluten-free and GMO-free.