Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) has a traditional association with the treatment and support of alcoholism, primarily due to the advocacy of Abram Hoffer and other proponents of orthomolecular medicine in the mid-20th century. Hoffer theorized that high doses of niacin could aid in the recovery from alcoholism by correcting nutritional deficiencies and purportedly reducing cravings for alcohol. This view was rooted in observations that chronic alcohol use often leads to deficiencies in several B vitamins, including niacin, and that supplementation could help restore general health and reduce some symptoms associated with withdrawal.

However, robust scientific validation for niacin specifically treating alcoholism or reducing relapse rates is lacking. Major clinical guidelines and systematic reviews do not recommend niacin as a primary or adjunctive intervention for alcohol use disorder outside of addressing overt deficiency states (e.g., pellagra). Most evidence supports the use of broader B vitamin supplementation, especially thiamine, to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome in alcohol-dependent individuals, but niacin's unique role beyond this is not established. Thus, while there is a historical context and traditional use, the scientific evidence for niacin specifically supporting alcoholism treatment is limited and rated low.

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