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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A study by researchers at the University of Missouri found that taking a popular vitamin supplement may contribute to the risk of brain tumors.
The vitamin called nicotinamide riboside is a variant of B3. According to the results of the study, taking the nutritional pill can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer and brain metastases. Metastasis occurs when cancer cells spread throughout the body and cause multiple tumor growths beyond an original site.
Nicotinamide riboside, or NR for short, is known for its purported benefits for metabolism, brain health, and the cardiovascular system, and is sometimes referred to as the “anti-aging” vitamin. The National Institutes of Health reports that according to a previous study, NR can be used to “modulate the aging process and thereby exhibit life-prolonging effects,” although the full effects and process are not yet clear.
However, new research from an international group of scientists and chemists found that high levels of NR can also lead to an increased risk of cancer.
According to the University of Missouri’s announcement of the study’s results, “NR could not only increase a person’s risk of developing triple-negative breast cancer, but also cause the cancer to metastasize, or spread to the brain.”
Elena Goun, associate professor of chemistry at MU and one of the study’s authors, said when cancer reaches the brain, the results are deadly because there are no viable treatments.
“Some people take them [vitamins and supplements] because they automatically assume that vitamins and supplements only have positive health benefits, but very little is known about how they actually work,” Goun said. “Because of this lack of knowledge, we were inspired to explore the fundamental questions of how vitamins and supplements work in the body.”
The higher risk of metastatic brain tumor was revealed by Goun’s work examining the effects of NR on cancer spread. Using bioluminescence-based probes, Goun and the other study authors were able to see how NR affects cancer growth.
Using bioluminescence technology, the researchers were able to probe the presence of NR with light and found that ‘the brighter the light, the more NR there is’ in certain cell types, including cancer cells.
“While NR is already widely used in humans and is being explored in so many ongoing clinical trials for additional uses, much of how NR works is a black box — it’s not understood,” Goun said. “This inspired us to develop this novel imaging technique, based on ultra-sensitive bioluminescence imaging, which enables real-time, non-invasive quantification of NR values.”
According to Goun, the study results show the “importance of careful investigation” into the side effects of dietary supplements in people with different health conditions.
A spokesman for the Food and Drug Administration told Nexstar that dietary supplements like nicotinamide riboside fall under different regulations than those for prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Under current law, the FDA must determine that the product is adulterated or mislabeled in order to withdraw it from the market.
For most people, adequate amounts of niacin, or vitamin B3, are naturally obtained from a variety of foods, including beef, fish, poultry, nuts, legumes, grains, rice, and more. The National Institutes of Health recommend that adult men consume an average of 16 mg of niacin per day, with 14 mg recommended for women.
For example, one cup of marinara sauce or three ounces of chicken breast both contain 10.3 mg of B3, according to the NIH.
