[Hypoglycemic effect of nicotinamide in diabetes mellitus]

Administration of nicotinamide (NA) is followed by a pronounced hypoglycemic effect with a simultaneous decrease of glucose content in the lens, sciatic nerve and aorta at manifest streptozotocin-induced diabetes and also by a complete normalization of parameters of the intraperitoneal glucose-tolerance test in rats with a "diabetic" type of glucose tolerance. A 14-day NA treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus results in the improvement of the glycemic profile, a decrease of glucosuria and the blood serum level of protein-bound hexoses as well as positive shifts in the condition of the cardiovascular and nervous systems.