Vitamin B3 (Niacin) · Heat-Stable Vitamin B3 for Fortified Foods, Cereals & Nutrition

Key characteristics

• Chemical name: Niacin (nicotinic acid, vitamin B3).
• Form: typically a white to slightly yellowish crystalline powder with mild characteristic odour.
• Solubility: sparingly soluble in water, but suitable for dry premixes, enrichment blends and solid dosage forms.
• Stability: highly stable to heat and oxygen in dry products and during typical baking and extrusion conditions; more sensitive in high pH and certain liquid systems.
• Function: used to fortify foods, cereal products and supplements with vitamin B3, help meet mandatory or voluntary enrichment standards and support energy metabolism claims.
• Form selection: niacin is often preferred for flour, cereal and bakery enrichment, while more water-soluble vitamin B3 forms (e.g. nicotinamide) may be selected for liquids and some instant applications. Atlas helps customers choose the best vitamin B3 strategy for each project.

Atlas supports R&D and fortification teams in optimising grade selection, dosage and premix design to balance nutritional targets, processing conditions and regulatory frameworks.

Indicative specification points

Detailed specifications are agreed case by case. Typical food and nutrition-grade niacin parameters include:

• Assay: generally 99.0–101.0% niacin (on dried basis).
• Identification tests: confirm nicotinic acid structure in line with pharmacopeial or food-grade methods.
• Loss on drying: controlled for stability, flow and shelf life.
• Residue on ignition / sulphated ash: limited according to specification and applicable regulations.
• Bulk density and particle size distribution: adjusted for premix blending, flour incorporation and tablet/capsule manufacture.
• Related substances and organic impurities: limited to comply with food and nutrition standards.
• Heavy metals: controlled to meet global and local regulatory requirements.
• Microbiological profile: suitable for use in foods, cereals, infant and medical nutrition (where applicable) under good manufacturing practice.

Each batch is delivered with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and a detailed technical data sheet. Additional documents (GMO status, allergen statements, dietary suitability, contaminants, origin, Halal/Kosher certifications) can be supplied from approved producers.

Flour & cereal enrichment

• Wheat flour and bakery mixes – niacin is a core component of mandatory or voluntary enrichment programs in many countries.
• Breakfast cereals and cereal bars – added via vitamin premixes to deliver declared vitamin B3 levels per serving.
• Composite flours and instant cereal mixes (e.g. porridges, infant and family cereals) fortified with niacin under tight regulatory frameworks.

Bakery & snack applications

• Breads, rolls and buns formulated with enriched flour or direct-add niacin premixes.
• Biscuits, crackers and baked snacks – niacin often included in better-for-you and fortified product concepts.
• Extruded snacks and cereal pieces where niacin shows good stability during extrusion when properly dosed.

Instant powders & solid nutrition formats

• Instant drink powders and nutrition shakes – niacin used as part of a vitamin premix in powdered formats.
• Meal-replacement and weight-management powders – vitamin B3 supports energy metabolism positioning alongside other vitamins and minerals.
• Growing-up milks and children’s powders – niacin levels are carefully aligned with age-specific nutritional guidelines in each market.

Medical, sports & specialised nutrition

• Clinical and medical nutrition – niacin is included in enteral and oral nutrition formulas under strict quality and regulatory controls.
• Sports nutrition – pre-workout, recovery and all-in-one formulas often contain niacin as part of B-complex combinations to support energy-yielding metabolism claims.
• Oral nutrition supplements – vitamin B3 is part of multi-nutrient systems in powder, granule or solid formats.

Dietary supplements & B-complex formulas

• Tablets and capsules – niacin is compressed or encapsulated alone or with other B-vitamins and minerals.
• Effervescent tablets, sachets and sticks – niacin provides vitamin B3 content in convenient single-serve formats.
• Specialised formulations – controlled-release and low-flush concepts may rely on specific forms and dosage strategies, with support from Atlas and manufacturing partners.

Formulation guidance

• Niacin dosage is determined by:
  • Regulatory enrichment requirements and RDI/RDA values,
  • Target on-pack claims (e.g. “source of / high in vitamin B3”),
  • Process and storage conditions and desired safety margins.
• In flour and cereal applications, niacin is usually delivered via a custom vitamin premix designed for homogeneous dispersion at low inclusion rates.
• For instant powders and supplements, particle size, flow and compatibility with other ingredients are critical for premix handling, tabletting and encapsulation.
• Niacin can cause flushing effects at high doses in some supplement formats; dosage strategy and communication should follow local regulations and scientific guidance.
• Regulatory and nutrition teams must confirm legal status, maximum use levels, enrichment rules and claim conditions in each destination market and product category.

Quality & documentation

• Supplied as food or nutrition-grade vitamin B3 with agreed specifications for assay, impurities, particle size and physical properties.
• Each batch is accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and a technical data sheet detailing key parameters and analytical methods.
• Additional documentation can include GMO status, allergen declarations, contaminants and heavy metal data, dietary suitability (e.g. vegetarian/vegan where applicable), BSE/TSE statements, origin and Halal/Kosher certificates depending on the selected producer and grade.
• Manufacturing sites typically operate under recognised ISO and food safety management systems (e.g. HACCP, FSSC/ISO 22000), with further certifications available on request.
• Customers remain responsible for regulatory compliance, enrichment standards, maximum levels, claim wording and label declarations in each destination market.

Packaging, storage & logistics

• Standard packaging: usually 25 kg fibre drums or cartons with inner liners to protect against moisture; alternative packaging sizes may be evaluated for specific supply chains.
• Suitable for full-container or mixed-container shipments together with other vitamins, sweeteners, acidulants, proteins and functional ingredients.
• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, heat and odour-intensive materials to maintain vitamin content and powder quality.
• Typical shelf life is defined in the specification and on the COA; customers should verify vitamin B3 retention in their own processes and during product shelf-life studies.
• Shipments can be arranged under FOB, CFR, CIF or other agreed Incoterms, with export, customs and quality documentation coordinated from Ankara, Türkiye.

To receive a tailored offer, please share your target applications (flour and cereal enrichment, bakery, instant powders, medical/sports nutrition, supplements, etc.), desired vitamin B3 level per serving, annual volume, packaging format, documentation/certification needs and destination markets. Our team will propose appropriate grades and premix concepts.