B3 may combat fungal infection

MONTREAL, July 12 (UPI) -- Canadian researchers say vitamin B3 may be effective in fighting fungal infections.

Researchers at the University of Montreal say studies in mice indicate C. albicans enzyme, known as Hst3 -- essential to the growth and survival of the yeast infection Candida albicans -- can be inhibited with nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3.

"There is an urgent need to develop new therapies to kill C. albicans because it is one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections and is associated with high mortality rates," researcher Martine Raymond said in a statement. "Although many issues remain to be investigated, the results of our study are very exciting and they constitute an important first step in the development of new therapeutic agents to treat fungal infections without major side effects for patients."

The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, concluded both normal and drug-resistant strains of C. albicans were susceptible to nicotinamide.