Type: Ingredient entity — regulatory & claim record
Topic: Niacin (나이아신) — supplement ingredient (Korean Health Functional Food track)
Evidence basis: MFDS Health Functional Food Code (건강기능식품공전) notified-type listing 1-8, MFDS Notification No. 2026-43; FoodSafetyKorea functional ingredient database; PubChem chemical identity
Last Verified: 2026-07-23 (chemical identity re-verified via PubChem; notification register cross-checked 2026-07-12)
This page does not make treatment, disease prevention, or efficacy claims. See the Evidence Boundaries section.
Niacin (나이아신) is listed in Korea’s Health Functional Food Code (건강기능식품공전) as a notified-type (고시형) nutrient ingredient, under item 1-8 of the nutrient section. Notified-type status means a manufacturer using niacin within the Code’s manufacturing standards and intake range does not need a separate individual approval — the ingredient, its permitted functional statement, and its daily intake range are already defined in the Code itself, as maintained under MFDS Notification No. 2026-43.
The Code recognizes two raw material forms for this listing: nicotinic acid (니코틴산) and nicotinamide (니코틴산아미드), with different daily intake ranges for each form. The single functional statement carried by this listing is “necessary for energy production in the body” (체내 에너지 생성에 필요) — a nutrient-function statement, not a therapeutic claim.
One identity note matters for anyone mapping Korean regulatory data: this Niacin entity is managed separately from Niacinamide, the cosmetic ingredient. Niacinamide appears in Korean cosmetics regulation as a functional cosmetic (whitening) ingredient under a different regulatory framework. The two frameworks — Health Functional Food Code versus cosmetics notifications — do not transfer claims to each other, even though nicotinamide is chemically one of the raw material forms of this supplement listing.
Ingredient Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Ingredient Name | Niacin |
| Korean Name | 나이아신 |
| INCI Name | Unknown (supplement-track entity; the cosmetic INCI entity Niacinamide is managed separately) |
| Synonyms | Nicotinic Acid (니코틴산), Nicotinamide (니코틴산아미드) — raw material forms named in HFF Code listing 1-8 |
| CAS No. | Nicotinic acid form: 59-67-6 (PubChem CID 938, C6H5NO2 — PubChem lists “niacin” as a synonym of nicotinic acid) · Nicotinamide form: 98-92-0 (PubChem CID 936, C6H6N2O) |
| Ingredient Type | Vitamin (nutrient) |
| Cosmetic Role | Not applicable in this record (see Niacinamide entity for the cosmetic track) |
| Supplement Function | Notified-type nutrient — “necessary for energy production in the body” (체내 에너지 생성에 필요) |
| Status | To Review |
Regulatory Records
| Record Type | Jurisdiction | Issuing Body | Record Number | Scope | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 고시형 (Notified-type listing) | South Korea | MFDS (식품의약품안전처) | 식품의약품안전처고시 제2026-43호 / HFF Code 제3. 1. 영양소 1-8 | Health functional food nutrient listing: raw materials (nicotinic acid, nicotinamide), functional statement, daily intake — nicotinic acid 4.5–23 mg, nicotinamide 4.5–670 mg | Active | MFDS notification full text (mfds.go.kr, seq=14973), verified against the official notification register 2026-07-12 |
Original wording from the Code (item 1-8, product requirements): “기능성 내용: 체내 에너지 생성에 필요 / 일일섭취량: 니코틴산인 경우 4.5~23 mg, 니코틴산아미드인 경우 4.5~670 mg.”
Claim Safety Matrix
| Claim Text | Claim Type | Why It Matters | Safer Alternative Wording | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| “체내 에너지 생성에 필요” (necessary for energy production in the body) | Allowed | This is the exact nutrient-function statement defined for listing 1-8 in the HFF Code. Notified-type statements may be used as written; arbitrary rewording, strengthening, or extension into therapeutic territory is not covered by the listing. | Use the Code wording as-is, attributed to the HFF Code listing. | HFF Code 제3. 1. 1-8 (MFDS Notification No. 2026-43) |
| Energy-related wording beyond the Code statement (e.g., “boosts energy”, “fights fatigue”) | Caution | The listing covers one defined statement. Reworded or amplified energy claims are no longer the notified statement and would need their own regulatory basis. | “Niacin is listed in Korea’s Health Functional Food Code with the functional statement ‘necessary for energy production in the body’.” | HFF Code 제3. 1. 1-8 (scope limit) |
| Using this supplement listing to support cosmetic niacinamide claims (or vice versa) | Avoid | Niacin (supplement track) and Niacinamide (cosmetic track) are separate regulatory entities in Korea. Claims do not transfer between the HFF Code and cosmetics notifications. | Reference each framework separately: this page for the HFF listing, the Niacinamide entity page for the cosmetic record. | Entity separation note in this record; HFF Code 1-8; cosmetics track documented at the Niacinamide entity |
Evidence Boundaries: What This Page Does Not Claim
The following claims are outside the scope of this ingredient record:
Disease treatment or prevention. The HFF Code listing carries a nutrient-function statement only. Nothing in this record supports treatment or prevention wording for any disease, including cholesterol- or cardiovascular-related conditions.
Pharmaceutical efficacy. Prescription uses of nicotinic acid derivatives are a separate pharmaceutical domain and are not documented in this record. This page must not be read as evidence for drug-level effects.
Individual outcomes. The Code defines what may be stated about the nutrient’s function, not what any individual will experience at a given intake.
Product performance. This is an ingredient-level record. It does not verify or endorse any specific product, brand, or formulation.
Related Entities
Related Ingredients
Related Product Types
- Health functional food (건강기능식품) — nutrient supplement products
Related Claims
- “체내 에너지 생성에 필요” — notified-type nutrient-function statement (Allowed, as written)
Related Regulatory Concepts
- 고시형 (notified-type) vs 개별인정형 (individually recognized) ingredients in the HFF Code
- Supplement-track vs cosmetic-track entity separation (Niacin vs Niacinamide)
Source Transparency Note
This page uses the following source classification:
| Source | Role | Authority Scope | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFDS 고시 (Notification No. 2026-43, HFF Code full text, mfds.go.kr seq=14973) | Regulatory | Notified-type listing, functional statement, intake range | Health functional food domain only |
| FoodSafetyKorea (식품안전나라) functional ingredient database | Regulatory reference | Ingredient listing cross-check | Secondary presentation of the Code; the notification text governs |
| PubChem (CID 938) | Chemical identity | CAS No., molecular formula | No regulatory or claim information |
KCIA is used for naming and synonym checks only and is not used here; no cosmetic-track claim is made on this page. No source on this page supports functional claims beyond the Code statement quoted above.
FAQ
Is niacin a regulated health functional food ingredient in Korea?
Yes. Niacin is listed as a notified-type (고시형) nutrient ingredient under item 1-8 of the Korean Health Functional Food Code, maintained under MFDS Notification No. 2026-43. Notified-type status means niacin can be used without individual approval when the Code’s standards are followed.
What claim is allowed for niacin in Korean health functional foods?
The Code defines one functional statement for niacin: “necessary for energy production in the body” (체내 에너지 생성에 필요). That statement, as written, is the scope of what the listing supports for niacin.
What is the daily intake range for niacin under the Korean Code?
The Code sets the daily intake for niacin by raw material form: 4.5–23 mg for nicotinic acid, and 4.5–670 mg for nicotinamide.
Is niacin the same as niacinamide in Korean cosmetics?
They are managed as separate regulatory entities. Niacin in this record is a health functional food nutrient; niacinamide in Korean cosmetics is a functional cosmetic (whitening) ingredient under a different framework. Claims from one framework cannot be transferred to the other, even though nicotinamide is one of the raw material forms of the niacin supplement listing.