Niacin Reduces Paraquat Toxicity in Rats

Rats poisoned with paraquat benefited from daily niacin therapy. Niacin-treated rats showed delayed and reduced dyspnea. Deaths began approximately 30 hours later. The time required for niacin-treated rats to reach 50 percent mortality increased from 60 to 120 hours, and the dealth rate was reduced form 75 to 55 percent. The benefit by niacin is consistent with the demonstrated role of niacin in preventing cellular decreases of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide during poisoning of bacteria by paraquat and by hyperbaric oxygen.