Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda, soda ash and soda crystals), Na 2 CO 3, is the water-soluble sodium salt of carbonic acid.
7. Improves Skin Function. Niacin helps protect skin cells from sun damage, whether it's used orally or applied to the skin in lotions . And recent research suggests it may help prevent some types of skin cancer . A 2015 study found that taking 500 mg of nicotinamide (a form of niacin) twice daily reduced rates of non-melanoma skin cancer among people at a high risk of skin cancer .
When taken at doses greater than the RDA, niacin confers an array of health benefits. 1  Niacin: 2  Increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) by 20-35%. No other available over-the-counter treatments, and very few drugs, are as effective. 3  Decreases small low-density lipoprotein (small LDL) particles.