Niacinamide May Be Able To Treat Both HIV And Tuberculosis

[haidut]

Apparently, many human trials in the period 1945 - 1960 found it effective for tuberculosis. More recent trials (1990s and on) found it potentially effective for HIV.
Effective human dose was 3g - 6g a day, with higher doses more effective for HIV.

http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/36/4/453.long

 

[Giraffe]

Shared features of tuberculosis and HIV (from article above)

- elevation of blood niacin levels
- plasma tryptophan depletion
- intracellular nicotinamide adeneine dinucelotide depletion

From an article about niacin equivalents

"For three diabetic subjects the average value was 1 mg of niacin from 42.5 mg of tryptophan. In a reinvestigation of this problem involving 19 young men, the value obtained was 1 mg of niacin from 72 mg of tryptophan."

Suspect a connection?

 

[Giraffe]

It looks like more tryptophan is converted to niacinamide when the body's needs for niacinamide are higher in disease.

Any ideas as to the mechanism?