This article aims to clear any doubts and questions you may have about this subject and we will do our best to do so.
What Is Niacin?
Summary Niacin is one of eight water-soluble B vitamins. Its key role is in the formation of NAD and NADP, which help your body process components from food into usable energy.
Why Do People Take Niacin?
As a cholesterol treatment, there are good studies showing that niacin can boost levels of good HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides.
Niacin also modestly lowers bad LDL cholesterol. It’s sometimes prescribed in combination with statins for cholesterol control, such as rosuvastatin (Crestor, Ezallor), simvastatin, fluvastatin (Lescol), atorvastatin (Lipitor) and pravastatin (Pravachol). However, niacin is only effective as a cholesterol treatment at fairly high doses.
These doses could pose risks, such as liver damage, gastrointestinal problems, or glucose intolerance. So don’t treat yourself with over-the-counter niacin supplements.
Deficiency Symptoms
In the past, niacin deficiency was common, especially in the Southern States of the U.S. Now, however, most people get enough vitamin B-3 in their diet.
Factors that can lead to low levels of B-3 include: having a diet low in tryptophans or a condition that reduces the body’s ability to convert tryptophan to niacin, such as Hartnup disease or carcinoid syndrome
undernutrition, for example, due to alcohol use disorder, anorexia, and inflammatory bowel disease
a low intake of vitamin B-2, B-6, or iron, as this can reduce the amount of tryptophan that converts to niacin Click here to find out more about vitamin B-3 deficiency.
Uses In Medicine
In the past, some people have combined vitamin B-3 with statin use as a treatment to control cholesterol. However, research into this has produced mixed results, and some people have had adverse effects.
For this reason, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association do not recommend using this treatment. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dietary Supplement Label Database recommend 16 milligrams (mg) a day of vitamin B-3 for anyone of 4 years of age or over who is consuming a 2,000-calorie diet. On this basis, those who eat a well-balanced diet will tend to consume enough niacin in their food.
Vitamin B supplements are available to purchase online, but people should check first with a doctor to make sure they are safe to take.