However, it can also cause serious side effects if you take large doses.
What Is Niacin?
The key role of niacin in your body is to synthesize the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), which are involved in over 400 biochemical reactions in your body — mainly related to obtaining energy from the food you eat Niacin is water-soluble, so your body does not store it. 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?
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). These doses could pose risks, such as liver damage, gastrointestinal problems, or glucose intolerance.
Deficiency Symptoms
The condition can be fatal.
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. Risks The amount of vitamin B-3 found in food does not cause side effects. On this basis, those who eat a well-balanced diet will tend to consume enough niacin in their food.