Toxicity of Nicotinic Acid and Some of Its Derivatives

Abstract

Summary

The relative toxicity of subcutaneous injections of nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, coramine, pyridine and their respective methyl derivatives has been determined. Methylation decreases the toxicity of coramine and nicotinamide, increases the toxicity of pyridine and has little or no apparent influence on the toxicity of nicotinic acid. The toxicity of the non-methylated compounds appears to be due directly to the structure of the compounds rather than to the depletion of the body stores of methyl donors in the process of detoxication.