Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site bbncc5.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!bbncc5!sdyer From: sdyer@bbncc5.UUCP (Steve Dyer) Newsgroups: net.med Subject: Re: vitamins and nitpicking Message-ID: <275@bbncc5.UUCP> Date: Tue, 6-Aug-85 15:59:31 EDT Article-I.D.: bbncc5.275 Posted: Tue Aug 6 15:59:31 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 7-Aug-85 08:55:24 EDT References: <1820@aecom.UUCP> <1075@cbdkc1.UUCP> <238@kitty.UUCP> Distribution: na Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA Lines: 21 > I hate to nitpick, but where I come from nicotinamide is Vitamin B3, > and niacin is simply a colloquial name for nicotinic acid. I think this is getting a little academic. Both niacin and niacinamide (or nicotinic acid and its amide, if you must) demonstrate "Vitamin B3 activity" in animals and humans. That is, if you have a niacin deficiency, either will do nicely. In general, a "vitamin" is sort of a Platonic Concept, and various chemicals have vitamin activity. For example, phytonadione is commonly thought to be vitamin K, but menadione, a much simpler chemical, also demonstrates "vitamin K activity." Also, see the various cobalamins which all demonstrate B12 activity. On the other hand, we're agreed that there isn't anything vitamin-like about "laetrile." What's "B-17 activity" other than taking money from people who don't have any more hope? -- /Steve Dyer {decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbnccv.ARPA