The key difference between nicotinamide and nicotinamide riboside is that nicotinamide is an aryl amide compound containing the –C(=O)NH2 functional group whereas nicotinamide riboside is a chemical compound made from the combination of nicotinamide molecule with a ribose sugar molecule.
Nicotinamide is a form of dietary supplement that we can consider as a form of vitamin B3. It occurs in food, and we can also use it as a medication.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Nicotinamide
3. What is Nicotinamide Riboside
4. Side by Side Comparison – Nicotinamide vs Nicotinamide Riboside in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Nicotinamide?
Nicotinamide is an amide chemical compound having the functional group –C(=O)NH2. It is a form of vitamin B3, and we can find this compound in food sources. E.g. we can find this substance in yeast, meat, milk, and green vegetables. It is useful as a medication; we can use this substance through the mouth to prevent and treat pellagra. Nicotinic acid or niacin can also be used as a substitute for this process, but unlike nicotinic acid, nicotinamide does not cause skin flushing. In its cream form, we can use this substance to treat acne. However, nicotinamide is an amide of nicotinic acid.
Figure 01: Chemical Structure of Nicotinamide
As a medication, nicotinamide has minimal side effects. However, when there are high doses of this substance inside our body, it can cause liver problems. Moreover, according to research studies, normal doses are safe for use during pregnancy.
In the chemical structure of nicotinamide, there is a pyridine ring to which a primary amide group is attached in the meta position. We can categorize nicotinamide as an amide of nicotinic acid. It is an aromatic compound. Also, this compound can undergo electrophilic substitution reactions and transformations of its two functional groups.
What is Nicotinamide Riboside?
Nicotinamide ribose or NR is a pyridine-nucleoside having a similar structure to that of vitamin B3. This substance can function as a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or NAD+. In 1944, this substance was named as a growth factor (named as Factor V), for Haemophilus influenza bacterium. This bacterium lives and depends on the blood.
Figure 02: Chemical Structure of Nicotinamide Riboside
When considering the synthesis of nicotinamide riboside compound, different biosynthetic pathways are available. The enzyme called “phosphoribosyltransferase” can catalyze the conversion of nicotinamide into NAD+ that can be converted into nicotinamide riboside though NR kinase enzyme.
What is the Difference Between Nicotinamide and Nicotinamide Riboside?
Nicotinamide and nicotinamide riboside are two different amide compounds. The key difference between nicotinamide and nicotinamide riboside is that nicotinamide is an amide compound containing a –C(=O)NH2 functional group whereas nicotinamide riboside is a chemical compound made from the combination of nicotinamide molecule with a ribose sugar molecule. Moreover, nicotinamide is used as a dietary supplement and as medication while nicotinamide riboside is used as a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or NAD+.
The following infographic tabulates the differences between nicotinamide and nicotinamide riboside for side by side comparison.
Summary – Nicotinamide vs Nicotinamide Riboside
Nicotinamide is a medication, and it is a form of vitamin B3. Nicotinamide riboside can be formed from nicotinamide through biosynthesis pathways with the use of enzymes. The key difference between nicotinamide and nicotinamide riboside is that nicotinamide is an amide compound containing the –C(=O)NH2 functional group whereas nicotinamide riboside is a chemical compound made from the combination of nicotinamide molecule with a ribose sugar molecule.
Reference:
1. “Nicotinamide Riboside.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Nov. 2020, Available here.
2. “Niacinamide: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and Warning.” WebMD, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Nicotinamid” By NEUROtiker – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Nicotinamide-beta-riboside” By Ed (Edgar181) – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia