title: Nicotinic acid supplementation in the context of alcoholic liver injury: friend or foe?
abstract: Li and colleagues (2014) in this issue report that dietary nicotinic acid (NA) supplementation ameliorates ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis, but a deficiency does not worsen injury induced by alcohol alone. The authors further present some mechanistic insights into the protective role of NA supplementation. Results of this and other previous studies in the context of alcoholic liver injury raise one important question as to what should be an adequate dose of NA that will provide the maximum benefit to hepatic and extrahepatic tissues and with minimum adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska; Departments of Internal Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
authors.forename: Kusum K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kharbanda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D009525:Niacin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D009525:Niacin; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Ethanol; Hepatic; Methylation Potential; Niacin; Prevention