Possibilities of using niacin in the framework of immunopathogenesis of depression

Niacin is a common descriptor for two vitamers, nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, which form biologically active coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and its phosphate analog, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. This paper presents the prospects for the use of nicine in the treatment of depressive conditions, mainly within the framework of the immune paradigm. The neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, pro-cognitive potentials of nicotinic acid and the inhibitory effect of tryptophan oxidation, together, open up new possibilities for the therapy of depressive conditions.