What the Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Test measures
Vitamin B3, or niacin, is needed to release energy from food and to keep the skin, gut and nervous system healthy. The body can also make some niacin from tryptophan, an amino acid in protein foods, so a deficiency is uncommon today. When it does occur, the classic illness is pellagra, which causes a rough, darkened rash on sun-exposed skin, diarrhoea, and confusion or low mood. Risk is higher with heavy alcohol use, malnutrition, diets based very heavily on maize or jowar with little protein, long-term isoniazid treatment, and some rare digestive and hormonal conditions. Niacin is also prescribed in high doses by some doctors to change cholesterol levels, and at those doses it can cause flushing and, occasionally, liver problems. The laboratory measures niacin or its breakdown products in the blood, and the report states exactly what was measured. Because it is a specialised test, it is usually ordered by a doctor who already suspects a problem rather than as part of a routine check.
Price: the Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Test costs ₹3,200 at Pure Bliss (MRP ₹4,000), with the sample collected at our Action Area 2, New Town centre or at your home.
Who this test is for
- A rash on sun-exposed skin with diarrhoea or confusion, where pellagra is suspected
- Heavy alcohol use, malnutrition or a very restricted diet
- Long-term isoniazid treatment
- Monitoring high-dose niacin therapy, as advised by a doctor
How to prepare, the sample, and when to expect the report
Preparation
Our team will tell you when booking whether a fasting sample is needed. Tell us about any niacin or B-complex supplements you take.
Sample
Blood, from a vein in the arm.
Reporting time
Specialised test: usually within 72 hours. We confirm the expected report date when booking.
Reading the result
Reference ranges differ between laboratories, so your report lists the laboratory’s own range beside each value. A result outside the range does not always mean illness; ask your doctor to explain it.
- Centre or home collection
- NABL-accredited Redcliffe Labs collection centre
- How collection works →