Niacin Deficiency Increases the Sensitivity of Rats to the Short and Long Term Effects of Ethylnitrosourea Treatment

    January 1999 in “ Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry ”
    Ann C. Boyonoski, Lisa Gallacher, Michéle M. ApSimon, Robert M. J. Jacobs, Girish M. Shah, Guy G. Poirier, James B. Kirkland
    TLDR Niacin deficiency makes rats more sensitive to cancer-causing chemicals.
    The study investigated the effects of niacin deficiency on the sensitivity of rats to ethylnitrosourea (ENU), a chemical known to induce cancer. It was found that niacin deficiency increased the sensitivity of rats to both the short-term and long-term effects of ENU treatment. This suggests that adequate niacin levels might play a protective role against the carcinogenic effects of certain chemicals. The study highlighted the importance of niacin in maintaining cellular defense mechanisms against DNA damage.
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