Why is nicotinamide so widely used in skincare and cosmetics?

Nicotinamide has become one of the most studied and widely used cosmetic actives because it addresses multiple skin concerns simultaneously: (1) anti-aging — increases NAD+ levels in skin cells, supporting DNA repair and collagen synthesis; (2) hyperpigmentation — inhibits melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes, reducing dark spots and uneven skin tone; (3) barrier function — stimulates ceramide synthesis, improving epidermal barrier integrity and reducing transepidermal water loss; (4) anti-acne — topical 4% nicotinamide has comparable efficacy to 1% clindamycin for inflammatory acne without antibiotic resistance risk; (5) anti-inflammatory — reduces facial redness and improves skin texture in rosacea. Typical cosmetic use concentrations range from 2–10%.

How is nicotinamide produced at industrial scale?

Two main production routes: (1) Chemical synthesis from 3-methylpyridine (3-picoline) via ammoxidation to 3-cyanopyridine, followed by selective hydration of the nitrile group to the amide — this is the dominant industrial route, practiced at massive scale in China and India using petrochemical feedstocks; (2) Biocatalytic production using nitrile hydratase enzymes from Rhodococcus or Pseudomonas species to convert 3-cyanopyridine to nicotinamide with high selectivity under mild conditions — this enzymatic route is increasingly used for high-purity cosmetic and pharmaceutical grades. China is the world's largest producer, with major capacity in Shandong and Jiangxi provinces.

Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) | CAS 98-92-0 | Nutrition Ingredient Supplier China

Name: Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
SKU: 98-92-0
Availability: InStock

Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) molecular structure

Quick Facts

CAS Number	98-92-0
Molecular Formula	C₆H₆N₂O
Molecular Weight	122.13
Pharmacopoeia	USP/USP-NF/FCC
Packaging	25 KG/DRUM

USP Grade USP-NF Grade FCC Grade

Product Overview

The story of nicotinamide is inseparable from the conquest of pellagra — a devastating disease that killed over 100,000 Americans in the early 20th century and affected millions more worldwide. In 1937, Dr. Conrad Elvehjem at the University of Wisconsin isolated nicotinamide as the active pellagra-preventing factor from liver extract, demonstrating that it could cure black tongue in dogs (the canine equivalent of pellagra) within days. This discovery transformed a fatal deficiency disease into a preventable nutritional condition and established nicotinamide as one of the most important vitamins in human nutrition. The compound had actually been synthesized decades earlier, in 1867, by oxidizing nicotine — hence the name — but its biological significance remained unknown until Elvehjem's work.

Nicotinamide is the amide form of Vitamin B3 (niacin) and serves as the direct precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and its phosphorylated form (NADP) — two coenzymes that participate in more than 200 enzymatic reactions in every living cell. NAD is the central electron carrier in cellular respiration, shuttling electrons from glycolysis and the Krebs cycle to the electron transport chain for ATP production. NADP provides reducing power for biosynthetic reactions (fatty acid synthesis, cholesterol synthesis) and maintains the cellular antioxidant glutathione in its reduced state. Without adequate nicotinamide-derived NAD/NADP, cellular energy metabolism and redox balance collapse — which is precisely what happened in pellagra.

The commercial significance of nicotinamide extends across four major industries. In cosmetics, it is the single most broadly effective topical vitamin active — supported by over 50 clinical studies — addressing hyperpigmentation, barrier repair, anti-aging, acne, and rosacea simultaneously. In pharmaceuticals, it is used in oral and topical formulations for pellagra treatment, acne, and as a component of combination therapies. In food fortification, it is the preferred form of Vitamin B3 for flour, cereal, and staple food enrichment because it is more chemically stable than nicotinic acid. In animal nutrition, it is a standard component of vitamin premixes for all major livestock and companion animal species. Unlike nicotinic acid, nicotinamide does not cause the prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation known as "niacin flush," making it the tolerability-preferred form across all applications.

As of mid-2026, the global nicotinamide market is driven by explosive growth in cosmetic and personal care applications — particularly niacinamide serums and creams, which have become some of the most searched skincare ingredients globally — alongside steady demand from food fortification and animal nutrition sectors. China is the world's dominant producer of nicotinamide, manufacturing it at industrial scale from 3-methylpyridine (3-picoline) via catalytic ammoxidation and hydration, with both chemical and enzymatic production routes in operation. KingWish supplies GMP-certified nicotinamide meeting USP, USP-NF, and FCC standards for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and feed applications worldwide.

Quality Specifications

Assay (HPLC/Titration)	98.5%–101.5% on dried basis, per USP monograph
Melting Point	128–131°C
pH (10% Aqueous Solution)	5.5–7.5
Nicotinic Acid (HPLC)	≤ 0.15% (standard grade); ≤ 100 ppm (cosmetic grade)
Related Substances	Any individual impurity ≤ 0.10%; total impurities ≤ 0.5%
Loss on Drying	≤ 0.5%
Residue on Ignition	≤ 0.1%
Heavy Metals	≤ 20 ppm (USP); arsenic ≤ 1 ppm, lead ≤ 2 ppm (FCC)
GMP Status	Manufactured under ICH Q7 GMP conditions

Key Applications

Cosmetics & Skincare

Anti-aging serums (5–10%), hyperpigmentation treatments (2–5%), barrier repair creams, acne formulations (4%), rosacea redness reduction. Cosmetic grade requires ultralow nicotinic acid (<100 ppm).

Pharmaceuticals & Supplements

Pellagra treatment and prevention. B-complex tablets. Flush-free niacin supplements 500–1000 mg. NAD+ precursor for cellular energy and healthy aging formulations.

Food & Beverage Fortification

Flour and cereal enrichment (typical 35–50 mg/kg flour). Functional beverages. Staple food fortification programs. More chemically stable than nicotinic acid during baking and processing.

Animal Nutrition

Vitamin premixes for poultry (30–80 mg/kg feed), swine (15–50 mg/kg), ruminants, and companion animals. Essential for energy metabolism, skin health, and growth performance.

Sourcing Nicotinamide: Key Checks

Documentation

Request CoA with assay, nicotinic acid content, and melting point. For cosmetic grade, verify nicotinic acid <100 ppm. For food/FCC grade, confirm arsenic and lead testing. Request GMP certificate and residual solvent statement.

Red Flags

Elevated nicotinic acid (>0.15%) — the most common quality issue from incomplete conversion or hydrolysis during storage. Depressed or broad melting range indicates impurities. Off-white or yellow color suggests degradation.

Packaging & Logistics

Standard: 25 KG/DRUM with moisture barrier. Store at room temperature (15–25°C), in a dry place, protected from light. Product is hygroscopic — protect from moisture. Shelf life 24–36 months. Standard lead time 4–8 weeks.

Market Context

Global nicotinamide market experiencing rapid growth driven by cosmetic skincare demand (niacinamide serums), NAD+ supplement trends, and food fortification programs. China dominates global production. Cosmetic-grade commands significant premium. Market report

Frequently Asked Questions

Both are forms of Vitamin B3 and both are converted in the body to NAD and NADP — the essential coenzymes for energy metabolism and DNA repair. The critical difference: niacin (nicotinic acid) causes the well-known 'niacin flush' — an uncomfortable prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation with skin reddening, warmth, and itching that occurs even at doses as low as 30–50 mg. Nicotinamide (niacinamide) does not cause flushing because it binds to different receptors and does not trigger prostaglandin D2 release from Langerhans cells. This makes nicotinamide the preferred form for cosmetic formulations (where tolerability and consumer acceptance are critical), high-dose dietary supplements, and food fortification programs.

Nicotinamide has become one of the most studied and widely used cosmetic actives because it addresses multiple skin concerns simultaneously — a rare attribute in dermatology: (1) Anti-aging — increases NAD+ levels in dermal fibroblasts, supporting DNA repair, collagen synthesis, and cellular energy production; (2) Hyperpigmentation — inhibits melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes, reducing dark spots and evening skin tone at 2–5% concentration; (3) Barrier function — stimulates ceramide and filaggrin synthesis, improving epidermal barrier integrity and reducing transepidermal water loss; (4) Anti-acne — topical 4% nicotinamide gel has shown comparable efficacy to 1% clindamycin gel for moderate inflammatory acne, without antibiotic resistance concerns; (5) Anti-inflammatory — reduces facial redness (erythema) and improves skin texture in rosacea patients. Typical cosmetic use concentrations range from 2% to 10%, with 5% being the most common in serums.

Two main production routes: (1) Chemical synthesis from 3-methylpyridine (3-picoline) via gas-phase ammoxidation with ammonia and oxygen over a vanadium oxide catalyst to produce 3-cyanopyridine, followed by selective hydration of the nitrile group to the amide group using either a copper-chromite catalyst (chemical route) or immobilized nitrile hydratase enzymes from Rhodococcus species (biocatalytic route). The chemical route is the dominant industrial process and operates at massive scale — China's annual nicotinamide production capacity exceeds 60,000 metric tons. The enzymatic route is increasingly used for high-purity cosmetic and pharmaceutical grades because it operates under mild conditions (room temperature, neutral pH, atmospheric pressure) and produces fewer byproducts. China is the world's largest producer, with major manufacturing facilities in Shandong and Jiangxi provinces.

Key USP specifications: (1) assay not less than 98.5% and not more than 101.5% on dried basis by HPLC or non-aqueous titration with perchloric acid; (2) melting point 128–131°C — a narrow, sharp melting range is a quick visual indicator of purity; (3) pH of 10% aqueous solution 5.5–7.5; (4) loss on drying not more than 0.5% at 105°C for 2 hours; (5) residue on ignition not more than 0.1%; (6) heavy metals not more than 20 ppm; (7) related substances — nicotinic acid not more than 0.15% (the hydrolysis product and most common impurity); for cosmetic grade, nicotinic acid must be below 100 ppm to avoid any risk of skin irritation. For FCC/food-grade, additional specifications for arsenic (not more than 1 ppm) and lead (not more than 2 ppm) apply. Particle size distribution is important for dry blending in dietary supplement tablets and food fortification premixes. The supplier's ability to provide a full monograph-compliant CoA with batch-specific HPLC data is the most reliable quality indicator.

Standards: USP/USP-NF/FCC | CAS: 98-92-0 | Quality data verified against pharmacopoeia monograph COA and MSDS available | DrugBank | July 2026