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Niacin
Also known as vitamin B3,
niacin has earned a reputation (in
supplement form) as a natural
cholesterol-lowering agent that often rivals
prescription drugs in mild to moderate
cases. It may also help to prevent or treat
a number of other disorders, from arthritis
and depression to diabetes. Three forms of
niacin supplements--each with a specific
therapeutic role--are commercially
available: nicotinic acid (also called
nicotinate), niacinamide and inositol
hexaniacinate, a compound of niacin and
inositol (another B-family vitamin).
Normally, the body manages
to absorb enough niacin from foods to carry
out basic functions, working on the cellular
level to keep the digestive system, skin and
nerves healthy. This vitamin is also
critical to releasing energy from
carbohydrates and helping to control
blood-sugar levels. Interestingly, the body
also synthesizes niacin from tryptophan, an
amino acid found in eggs, milk and poultry.
Although few people in the
industrialized world are actually deficient
in niacin, many may benefit from additional
amounts in supplement form to help treat
assorted complaints. Keep in mind that each
of the three forms of niacin affects the
body differently. Niacinamide has notable
anti-inflammatory properties, for example,
while nicotinic acid and inositol
hexaniacinate affect blood lipid levels and
circulation.
Specifically, niacin may
help to:
Control cholesterol.
Unlike most prescription
cholesterol-lowering medications, which
simply lower levels of LDL ("bad")
cholesterol and triglycerides, niacin also
raises levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol.
As a result, this vitamin may prove more
potent than conventional medicines in
ultimately reducing the risk for a heart
attack (and death from a heart attack). In a
recent study of people with high
cholesterol, niacin not only reduced LDL and
triglycerides by 17% and 18%, respectively,
but it also increased HDL by 16%. Although
both nicotinic acid and inositol
hexaniacinate have cholesterol-benefiting
actions, inositol hexaniacinate is the
preferred form--it doesn't cause skin
flushing and poses much less risk of liver
damage with long-term use.
Combat Raynaud's
disease and other circulatory problems.
Niacin improves circulation by relaxing
arteries and veins, and disorders
characterized by circulation difficulties
may benefit as a result. In those suffering
from Raynaud's disease, for example,
niacin's ability to improve blood flow to
the extremities may counter the numbness and
pain in the hands and feet that occurs when
blood vessels overreact to cold
temperatures. The calf-cramping and other
painful symptoms of intermittent
claudication, another circulation disorder,
may lessen under the vessel-relaxing
influence of niacin as well. The inositol
hexaniacinate form of niacin works best for
circulation-related discomforts.
Fight depression.
Based on niacin's well-recognized role in
promoting the sound functioning of nerve
cells, some experts recommend the vitamin
for relieving depression as well as for
soothing feelings of anxiety and panic. Most
B-vitamin complexes contain sufficient
amounts of niacin for this purpose; as an
added plus, the complexes also offer the
mood-enhancing benefits of other B vitamins.
Ease symptoms of
arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The anti-inflammatory properties associated
with niacinamide may help in calming joint
inflammation, a frequent cause of rheumatoid
arthritis pain. In a double-blind, 12-week
study, osteoarthritis sufferers who received
niacinamide supplements reported less
inflammation and greater joint flexibility
than other participants who were given a
placebo. The niacinamide group also required
less conventional anti-inflammatory
medication to relieve their customary pain
and swelling.
Slow progression of
type 1 diabetes.
High doses of niacinamide, if given at the
first signs of the disease, appear to help
prevent complications of insulin-dependent
diabetes and may even help reverse its
development. This complementary supplement
treatment should only be undertaken with
careful medical supervision, however.
Treat tinnitus.
The persistent ringing, humming and buzzing
in the ears associated with this condition
has been linked to poor blood circulation.
By widening blood vessels in the brain,
inositol hexaniacinate may help to relieve
these and other tinnitus symptoms.
The RDA for niacin is 14 mg
for women and 16 mg for men. Specific
disorders usually require higher doses.
A deficiency in niacin can
result in pellagra, a skin disorder
characterized by small patches of dry, scaly
irritated skin in sunlight-exposed areas.
Other symptoms include loss of appetite and
strength, and digestive complaints. Severe
cases can involve headache, memory loss and
depression. Pellagra is now quite rare in
the industrialized world.
It's nearly impossible to get
too much niacin from foods. This is not the
case with supplements, however. Keep in mind
that megadoses can cause serious side
effects, such as abdominal cramping, nausea,
and vomiting; lightheadedness; ulcers; and
skin rashes, flushing or itching. Liver
damage is also a risk with long-term use of
niacinamide and nicotinic acid. Inositol
hexaniacinate in doses higher than 2,000 mg
a day may have a blood-thinning effect.
Special tips:
Most multivitamins and B-complex supplements
provide the RDA for niacin. Dosages adequate
for treating specific ailments are typically
found in individual niacin supplements,
however.
--In general, niacin in
the form of inositol hexaniacinate and
niacinamide tends to cause fewer side
effects than nicotinic acid.
For treating high
cholesterol, Raynaud's disease, intermittent
claudication or tinnitus: Take 500 mg of
inositol hexaniacinate three times a day.
Continue for two months if your goal is to
lower cholesterol. Stop at this point if
cholesterol levels haven't improved.
For anxiety or
depression: A vitamin B-complex supplement
will typically provide the amount of niacin
(50 mg a day) necessary for treating these
conditions.
For arthritis: Take 1,000
mg of niacinamide three times a day.
Be sure to check out our
Dosage Recommendations Chart for Niacin,
which lists therapeutic dosages for specific
ailments at a glance.
Take niacin supplements with meals or a glass of milk
to prevent stomach discomfort.
Niacin acts like a drug
when taken in high doses (1.5 to 6 grams a
day). If you're contemplating using niacin
in this dosage range, consult a doctor for
supervision.
When possible, substitute
inositol hexaniacinate for niacinamide and
nicotinic acid. Inositol hexaniacinate is
the safest form available, causing no skin
flushing and posing considerably less risk
of liver damage.
Use caution when taking large, therapeutic doses of
niacin--in any form--if you're already on
one of the cholesterol-lowering prescription
drugs known as statins. Muscle pain and
inflammation, and even kidney failure, are a
risk if you mix niacin with any of the
statins. Stop taking the drug and call your
doctor immediately if any of the above
symptoms occur.
Check with your doctor
before taking niacin if you suffer from
diabetes, low blood pressure, glaucoma,
gout, liver disease, ulcers or a bleeding
disorder. Niacin supplements may aggravate
these conditions.
Have your doctor schedule
blood tests every three months to check
liver function if you take any form of
niacin in amounts of 1,000 mg or more daily.
Don't take timed-release
niacin, an over-the-counter cholesterol drug
designed specifically not to cause nicotinic
acid-related skin flushing. Research
indicates it may cause liver damage.
Stick to recommended
doses; excessive amounts can cause serious
health problems.
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Ailments
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Dosage
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Diabetes |
500 mg inositol
hexaniacinate 3 times a day
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High Cholesterol |
500 mg 3 times a
day
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Raynaud's disease |
500 mg 3 times a
day
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Tinnitus |
500 mg inositol
hexaniacinate 3 times a day
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