Chapter – 5 Ft Infrared , Ft Raman , Vibrational Assignments and Quantum Chemical Studies of Nicotinic Acid

Nicotinic acid widely known as Niacin are also known as vitamin B3 and vitamin PPis an organic compound with the formula C5H4NCO2H which is present in forty to eighty essential human nutrients. This colourless and water-soluble solid is a derivative of pyridine, with a carboxyl group (COOH) at the 3-position. Niacin was first described by Hugo Weidel in 1873 in his studies of nicotine [1]. Mild niacin deficiency has been shown to slowdown metabolism and cause decreased tolerance to the cold. Severe deficiency of niacin in the diet causes the disease pellagra which is characterized by diarrhea, dermatitis and dementia as well as ―necklace‖ lesions on the lower neck, hyperpigmentation, thickening of the skin, inflammation of the mouth and tongue, digestive disturbances, amnesia, delirium, and eventually death, if untreated [2]. It has been proposed that niacin has the ability to lower lipoprotein (a), which is beneficial at reducing thrombotic tendency. High-dose niacin may also elevate blood sugar, thereby worsening diabetes mellitus [3].