Ray Peat on Niacinamide

January 29, 2026

The Effect of Estrogen on Tryptophan Metabolism

"Estrogen strongly influences tryptophan metabolism by increasing its conversion to serotonin at the expense of niacinamide, which explains the symptoms of pellagra when the diet is low in tryptophan. When sufficient protein is present in the diet, promoting serotonin synthesis does not lead to a niacinamide deficiency, but conditions that increase the influence of estrogen also exacerbate the dysfunctions associated with serotonin."

September 2019 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Nutritional Therapy and Hormonal Support for Abnormal Pap Smears

"Many women with abnormal Pap smears, even when a biopsy showed so-called carcinoma in situ, returned to normal after only two months when following a diet that included: 90 g protein, 500 mg magnesium as chloride, 100,000 units vitamin A, 400 units vitamin E, 5 mg folic acid, 100 mg pantothenic acid, 100 mg B6, 100 mg niacinamide, and 500 mg vitamin C, supplemented as needed with thyroid and progesterone. Liver should be eaten twice a week. Some women apply vitamin A directly to the cervix."

Nutrition For Women

Protective Factors in Parkinson’s Generally Act Against Estrogen

"Factors likely protective in Parkinson’s disease are generally protective against estrogen and the inflammatory-degenerative processes: progesterone, minocycline and other anti-inflammatory antibiotics, agmatine, aspirin, coffee, niacinamide, citrus flavonoids, vitamin D, ACE inhibitors, as well as fiber-rich antiseptic foods."

March 2017 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

List of Various Medications and Supplements

"Acetazolamide, agmatine, amantadine, aminoguanidine, antibiotics (minocycline, tetracycline, etc.), antihistamines, aspirin, bromocriptine, DCA, emodin, glucagon, glucose, memantine, methylene blue, niacinamide, T3 (triiodothyronine), vitamin D, vitamin E."

March 2016 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Reducing the Harmful Effects of Excess Serotonin

"Avoiding prolonged fasting and intense stress exercise that increase free fatty acids, combining sugar with proteins to keep free fatty acids low, as well as using aspirin, niacinamide, or cyproheptadine to reduce free fatty acid formation from unavoidable stress; avoiding an excess of phosphate relative to calcium in the diet; consuming milk and other anti-stress foods before bedtime or during the night; and spending the day in a brightly lit environment with regular sunlight—all of these can minimize the harmful effects of excess serotonin and reduce the associated inflammation, fibrosis, and atrophies."

July 2019 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Protective Substances Against the Effects of Impaired Glucose Oxidation

"Other substances that protect against the effects of hypoglycemia or impaired glucose oxidation include progesterone, caffeine, certain anesthetics including xenon, niacinamide, agmatine, and carbon dioxide."

January 2017 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Defense Mechanisms Against Nitric Oxide: The Nutritional Approach

"The most important anti-nitric oxide defense substances include progesterone, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin A, niacinamide, coffee, aspirin, as well as foods containing flavonoids, terpenoids, polyphenols, and sterols. Grass-fed milk contains a variety of polyphenols. Citrus fruits, many tropical fruits (e.g., guavas, longans, and lychees), and cooked mushrooms are good sources of apigenin, naringenin, and related compounds."

January 2016 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

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