Small Doses of Niacin and Beta-Alanine in MemoHoney: What They Mean
Quick answerEach MemoHoney capsule lists 7.5 mg NE of niacin, about half of what adults need in a day, and 40 mg of beta-alanine, about 1% of the 4 g used in sports studies. Niacin flushing starts around 30 mg, and beta-alanine tingling comes with gram doses, so neither is likely here. Add up niacin from your other supplements.
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What do the niacin and beta-alanine lines say?
Two lines on the MemoHoney label are easy to skip. Niacin is listed at 7.5 mg NE, which is 47% of the Daily Value. Beta Alanine is listed at 40 mg, with no Daily Value at all.
Both are small numbers next to the 400 mg of arginine on the same panel. This post explains what each one means for your body, and what it does not mean. Here is the Supplement Facts panel, retyped so you can read every line.
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Capsule
Servings Per Container: 30
| Amount per serving | %DV | |
|---|---|---|
| Niacin | 7.5 mg NE | 47% |
| Calcium (as Calcium Carbonate) | 18 mg | 1.5% |
| L-Arginine (base) | 200 mg | † |
| L-Arginine AKG 2:1 Extract | 200 mg | † |
| L-Citrulline HCl | 100 mg | † |
| L-Citrulline Malate | 100 mg | † |
| Beta Alanine | 40 mg | † |
† Daily Value not established.
Other ingredients: Hypromellose (Vegetable Capsule), Vegetable Stearate, Silicon Dioxide.
Retyped from the label image so it can be read and searched. The bottle in your hand is the final word.
The double asterisk on the label marks lines with no set daily target. Five of the seven lines carry it. Our Supplement Facts page shows the label image itself.
What does 7.5 mg NE of niacin mean?
NE stands for niacin equivalents. Niacin is vitamin B3, and the body can get it from food, from pills, and from making some of its own. The NE unit lets one number count all of it.
Adult men need 16 mg NE a day and adult women need 14 mg NE (NIH ODS, Niacin). A single capsule therefore supplies close to half the daily amount. Most adults in the U.S. already get enough niacin from meat, fish, poultry, beans, nuts and fortified grains.
| Niacin number | Amount | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| One MemoHoney capsule | 7.5 mg NE | 47% of the Daily Value on the label |
| Adult women need | 14 mg NE a day | Mostly met by food for most people |
| Adult men need | 16 mg NE a day | Mostly met by food for most people |
| Flushing can start | About 30 mg | Skin turns warm, red and itchy |
| Upper limit from supplements | 35 mg a day | All supplements combined |
The label does not say which form of niacin is used. That matters less at this dose, since 7.5 mg sits well under the point where flushing is reported. Our niacin page covers the vitamin in more depth.
Will the niacin make your skin flush?
A niacin flush is a hot, red, itchy feeling on the face, neck and chest. It is linked to 30 mg or more of nicotinic acid (NIH ODS, Niacin). One MemoHoney capsule has 7.5 mg NE, a quarter of that.
So flushing from the capsule alone is unlikely. It can still happen if you take other niacin products at the same time. The total is what counts, not one pill.
- 7.5 mgNiacin in one capsule
- 30 mgWhere flushing is reported
- 35 mgUpper limit from supplements
How do you add up niacin from other supplements?
Many products carry niacin without saying so on the front. Multivitamins, B-complex pills, hair and skin formulas, and energy drinks often list it. Each one adds to your daily total.
Prescription niacin for cholesterol is a different matter. It comes in much larger doses and is managed by a doctor. If you take it, tell that doctor before adding any other niacin source. Follow these steps to find your own total.
Gather every bottle
Include vitamins, supplements and powdered drink mixes you use most days.
Find the niacin line
Look for niacin, vitamin B3, nicotinic acid or niacinamide on each Supplement Facts panel.
Write each amount
Use the number per serving, and multiply if you take more than one serving. MemoHoney adds 7.5 mg NE.
Add them up
Compare the total with 35 mg, the upper limit from supplements.
Show the list
Bring the total to your pharmacist if it is close to the limit or if you take cholesterol medicine.
A worked example
Example only: a multivitamin listing 20 mg plus one MemoHoney capsule makes 27.5 mg. Adding a B-complex with 50 mg would put you well over 35 mg. Your own labels will have their own numbers.
What does 40 mg of beta-alanine mean?
Beta-alanine is an amino acid sold mostly to athletes. In sports studies, people took 4 to 6 g a day, split into doses of 2 g or less, for at least two weeks (Trexler et al., ISSN 2015). That raised a compound called carnosine in their muscles.
MemoHoney lists 40 mg. That is about 1% of the 4 g low end. No study has tested 40 mg a day, and no study has tied beta-alanine to memory. The bars below show how small each line is next to its research dose.
L-ArginineAbout 12%
Beta AlanineAbout 1%
Memory evidenceNo product study
No study of MemoHoney has been published. The one arginine memory trial we found was small, short and used about 8 times more arginine. (Mone et al., 2022)
Our beta-alanine page goes deeper on the sports research. For a full line-by-line comparison, see the ingredients page.
Is tingling a concern at this dose?
Tingling is the one side effect sports studies report for beta-alanine (Trexler et al., ISSN 2015). It is called paraesthesia. People describe pins and needles on the face, neck or hands soon after a large dose.
At 40 mg, that is not expected. The tingle in studies came with gram-sized doses. If you feel new tingling, think about what else you took that day, and mention it to your doctor.
| What you feel | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Warm, red, itchy skin on face and chest | Niacin flush, usually from 30 mg or more | Check your niacin total; tell your doctor if it repeats |
| Pins and needles all over, soon after a dose | Beta-alanine tingling at gram doses | Look for other sports products you took |
| Dizziness or feeling faint | Possibly lower blood pressure from arginine or citrulline | Sit down; call your doctor the same day |
| Sudden numbness or weakness on one side | Not a supplement effect; can be a stroke | Dial 911; record when it began (CDC, Stroke signs) |
| Swelling of lips or face, trouble breathing | Possible allergic reaction | Call 911 |
Where else does niacin come from?
Food covers most of your niacin
Fish, poultry, meat, peanuts and beans are common niacin sources in a normal diet. Fortified breads and cereals add more.
This is why the label amount sits in context. Half a day's niacin from a capsule lands on top of what your meals already give you.
For the other small mineral line, see calcium on the ingredients page. At 18 mg, it adds very little.
Photo: beans, nuts, peanuts and fish in bowls, everyday foods. Not a claim about where the capsule's ingredients come from.
Honest note: small doses, no product study
These two lines are not why anyone would expect a change in memory. Niacin at this dose fills part of a normal daily need. Beta-alanine at 40 mg is far below any tested amount.
No study of MemoHoney has been published. Across the board, supplements lack proof that they ward off dementia (NCCIH, Supplements for cognitive function). If memory worries you, a doctor visit comes first; see our post on normal memory changes after 60.
How can you keep track of what you take?
A simple list stops doubling up before it starts. It also makes every doctor visit faster. Click through the steps below to build one.
Niacin and beta-alanine small doses FAQ
What does mg NE mean on a supplement label?
NE stands for niacin equivalents. It is the unit used to count niacin from all sources, so 7.5 mg NE is the niacin this capsule adds to your day.
How many mg NE of niacin does an adult need?
Adult men need 16 mg NE and adult women need 14 mg NE a day, according to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Most people get much of that from food.
Will 7.5 mg of niacin make me flush?
It is unlikely. Flushing is linked to about 30 mg or more of nicotinic acid, which is four times the amount in one capsule.
What is the upper limit for niacin from supplements?
The upper limit for adults is 35 mg a day from supplements. Add the niacin line from every product you take and keep the total under that number unless your doctor says otherwise.
Does 40 mg of beta-alanine do anything?
No study has tested 40 mg. Sports research used 4 to 6 g a day for weeks to raise muscle carnosine, so 40 mg is about 1% of the low end.
Where does the beta-alanine tingle come from?
Tingling, called paraesthesia, is the one side effect reported in sports studies at gram doses. It is not expected from 40 mg.
Can I take niacin with a multivitamin?
Usually, but add up the numbers first. Read the niacin line on the multivitamin, add 7.5 mg NE, and check the total against the 35 mg upper limit.
Is tingling in my hands from a supplement dangerous?
A mild all-over tingle after a large beta-alanine dose is known in sports studies. Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body is different: call 911, as it can be a stroke.
Is the calcium in the capsule enough to matter?
No. The capsule lists 18 mg, about 1.5% of the Daily Value, while adults need 1,000 to 1,200 mg a day.
Totals added up? See the MemoHoney packs
One capsule a day, 30 per bottle, with every amount printed on the label and no honey in it. Packs start at $49 a bottle on 6 bottles, with a 60-day money-back window. On heart or blood pressure medicine? Check with your doctor first.
