Doctors tirelessly talk about the dangers of smoking, but people continue to buy tobacco products in the same volumes. But the fact that a drop of nicotine can kill even a horse is a scientifically proven fact, so every person should think about giving up their addiction.
However, this article is not at all about the dangers of smoking, although it will deal with tobacco, and to be more precise, about some of the substances contained in it and their derivatives. Every smoker has heard of nicotine and niacin. However, most are convinced that these components are one and the same.
There is some truth in this, but such an opinion is far from the truth. So that no one has any questions, let's see how nicotine differs from nicotinic acid. We will also try to find out whether they are really so dangerous for our he alth or not everything is as scary as the doctors say.
General information
Before we get into the main differences, let's first find out what nicotinic acid and nicotine actually are. The latter substance is a natural alkaloid, which is extracted from a huge number of plants of the nightshade family. The highest concentration is found in tobacco and shag.
Nicotine is one of the most powerful insecticides of natural origin, which is why it was previously widely used to control insects. In appearance, it resembles a yellow oily liquid that dissolves well in water.
But what is the difference between nicotine and nicotinic acid? The latter is an alkaloid derivative and is called niacin or vitamin B3 in scientific circles. It is one of the most important, because it takes part in many chemical and biological processes in our body, as well as the secretion of certain enzymes and improves the formation of carbohydrates in living cells.
The effect of the alkaloid on the body
Let's take a closer look at this. Above, we examined what nicotinic acid and nicotine are - is it the same or not. Now let's find out how these substances affect a person.
When ingested, they penetrate the brain in just 7 seconds. When smoking one cigarette, the dose is negligible, since most of the nicotine is burned. The alkaloid has a stimulating effect on cholinergic receptors, resulting in an increase in the leveladrenaline. Also, a person's heart rate increases, blood pressure increases and blood sugar levels increase.
In addition, under the influence of nicotine, dopamines are produced in the brain, as a result of which the smoker begins to experience a feeling of mild euphoria and peace, but at the same time, his pain threshold rises. Thus, despite the fact that nicotinic acid and nicotine have something in common, nevertheless, their effect on the body is completely different. This is precisely their main difference.
Harm nicotine
So, what is worth knowing about this? Considering the differences between nicotine and nicotinic acid, it is necessary to say a few words about the threat nicotine poses in its pure form to human he alth. This alkaloid is a very strong neurotoxin, too much of which in the blood can lead to cardiac arrest and paralysis of the central nervous system.
The lethal dose for the average adult male is between 40 and 80 milligrams. Nicotine is addictive, and with regular ingestion, it can lead to the development of various cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, and also cause inflammation of the soft tissues of the oral cavity.
Useful properties of the alkaloid
Many people are interested in what nicotinic acid and nicotine have in common. So, no matter how strange it may sound, the alkaloid has a positive property. To be more precise, in the course of a chemical reaction, it is transformed intoniacin. As mentioned earlier, this is vitamin B3, which is an integral part of many life processes.
A bit of biology and biochemistry
As you already understood, nicotine is converted into nicotinic acid in the process of oxidation. It normalizes metabolism, regulates fat metabolism and stimulates the production of many enzymes. Niacin is also found in various plant-derived foods, but their concentrations are relatively low. Vitamin B3 deficiency is fraught with the following problems:
- pellagra;
- impaired gallbladder function;
- hormonal imbalance;
- reduced synthesis of blood cells;
- neuralgic pathologies develop;
- increased blood sugar and cholesterol levels;
- fetal development slows down during pregnancy.
Thus, the importance of nicotinic acid is quite obvious. That is why the alkaloid contained in tobacco and other related plants is widely used today in pharmacology for the manufacture of many drugs.
Medical use of nicotinic acid
This aspect should be given special attention. Vitamin B3, obtained from nicotine, can be purchased at any pharmacy in ampoules intended for intramuscular injection and tablets. These drugs are actively used to treat many pathologies:
- various forms of beriberi;
- mucosal inflammationlining of the stomach;
- violation of metabolic processes;
- cirrhosis and some other liver diseases;
- osteochondrosis of the spine;
- angiospasm of internal organs;
- hemorrhoids;
- obesity;
- skin ulcers;
- trophic disorders;
- inflammatory lesion of peripheral nerves;
- rehabilitation after poisoning with potent toxic substances;
- ischemic stroke;
- impaired cerebral circulation;
- atherosclerosis;
- tinnitus;
- vision decrease.
Thus, obtaining nicotinic acid from nicotine is a very important process, since this substance allows doctors to solve a huge number of problems and increase the effectiveness of the treatment of many serious diseases of various etiologies.
Niacin Contraindications
Despite the huge benefits, vitamin B3 can not be used in all cases. Although it is considered vital, it should not be given to people with the following problems:
- substance hypersensitivity;
- acute ulcer;
- chronic hypertension;
- any liver disease;
- heart rhythm disorder;
- circulatory problems;
- neurotic disorders;
- inflammatory diseases;
- liver failure;
- gastric ulcer.
In addition to all of the above, the use of nicotinic acid is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding,since the substance will enter the baby's body with mother's milk, which can lead to various problems.
Side effects
This aspect should be read first. In the body of smokers, nicotine is oxidized to nicotinic acid, due to which they compensate for the lack of vitamin B3. Therefore, they should be very careful if the doctor prescribes them a course of drug therapy, which is based on niacin.
This is due to the fact that an excess of this substance can cause certain side effects in case of individual intolerance to nicotinic acid. Among the most common are the following:
- allergic reactions;
- sensitivity disorder;
- dizziness;
- blood rush to the brain;
- redness of the skin;
- feeling hot;
- dramatic drop in blood pressure.
If side effects develop, no action should be taken. They go away on their own after a while.
Overdose
An overabundance of any substance or drug will not go unnoticed, as the body will immediately let you know about it. An overdose of nicotinic acid and nicotine is no exception. With a significant increase in the level of their content in the blood, the following symptoms occur:
- nausea and gagging;
- severe migraines;
- fainting;
- liquid stool;
- muscle pain;
- numbness of upper and lower limbs;
- acute and sharp pains in the stomach;
- allergic reactions accompanied by skin rash and itching;
- dramatic drop in blood pressure.
If any of these clinical manifestations occur, you should immediately go to the hospital. A qualified specialist will perform a full examination and prescribe tests, if necessary, prescribe the necessary medications that will reduce the risk of serious complications.
Vitamin B3 deficiency
If your body has a low level of nicotinic acid, then you will certainly notice it. Due to its lack, metabolic processes are disturbed and various he alth problems develop. In addition, a person begins to notice the following in himself:
- quick fatigue even with little physical exertion;
- decrease in labor productivity;
- increased irritability;
- emotional instability;
- depression and lethargy;
- pale shade of the epidermis;
- failure in the functioning of the digestive system;
- skin itching;
- sleep disorder;
- indifference to everything that happens;
- lack of appetite;
- violation of spatial orientation.
If you find yourself deficient in vitamin B3, then you need to go to the hospital to undergo treatment. Nicotinic acid and nicotine in cigarettes will not be able to make up for it. Smoking is really harmful to he alth and slowly killing people,therefore, it is better to give up this bad habit completely.
Myths and stereotypes
Despite the general belief that nicotinic acid and nicotine are the same substance, in fact this is not entirely true. Yes, it is a derivative of an alkaloid, but there is not much in common. Moreover, niacin is produced in the intestines and liver, and is also found in many foods. According to scientists, the relationship is purely historical.
Another misconception is that nicotine can dissolve in absolutely any liquid. This belief is also far from the truth. The alkaloid interacts only with liquid, but it does not enter into any reaction with alcohols and fats.
Also a very common stereotype concerns the scope of niacin. Since it is vitamin B3, many are convinced that it is used exclusively for medical purposes for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. But this substance is widely used in the food industry, in which it is known under the marking E 375. Nicotinic acid acts as a stabilizer that preserves the color of sausages and a vitamin supplement in bread, pasta and cereals.
And the last known myth is that nicotine accumulates in the body. Not really. It is completely excreted in the urine, provided that its consumption does not exceed the daily requirement, which is 15 milligrams.
What foods contain nicotinic acid
To orderto make up for the lack of vitamin B3 in the body, it is not at all necessary to inject injections or take pills. As noted earlier, it is found in many foods. The richest in niacin are:
- lentils;
- mushrooms;
- legumes;
- rye bread;
- pineapples;
- buckwheat;
- potato;
- broccoli;
- yeast;
- nuts;
- carrot;
- sunflower seeds.
In addition to plant foods, nicotinic acid is also found in animal foods. For example, it is rich in lamb, chicken breast, eggs of all kinds of birds, liver, turkey, salmon and tuna. Therefore, if you notice symptoms of vitamin B3 deficiency in yourself, you can get rid of this problem if you think through your daily diet correctly.
Conclusion
In this article, we examined in detail the difference between nicotine and nicotinic acid. Despite the similar names, these are two completely different substances that should not be confused. Not only do they have nothing in common, but on the contrary, they are opposite. Nicotine is addictive and harmful to he alth, while niacin normalizes metabolism and improves the functioning of many systems and internal organs at the cellular level. Therefore, now you will not have a delusion about this, and you will not confuse a vitamin with a kind of soft drug.
