Niacin, also known as vitamin B-3 or nicotinic acid, works in conjunction with other B vitamins to convert carbohydrates to energy and to metabolize fats and proteins. Healthy nerves, skin, eyes and hormone production depend on niacin. Therapeutic effects of the vitamin occur at high doses, causing a common side effect of skin flushing, which usually subsides after several weeks of daily use. Because high doses of niacin may be toxic to the liver, niacin therapy should be monitored by a health care professional.
Correct Deficiency
The FDA approved niacin for the treatment of vitamin B-3 deficiency and conditions related to niacin deficiency, such as pellagra. Niacin deficiency may occur in developing countries as a result of malnutrition, especially where corn is the primary staple food. In the United States, niacin deficiency may be the result of chronic alcohol abuse. Medline Plus reports that slow growing carcinoid tumors, a rare form of cancer, may also cause niacin deficiency. Symptoms of pellagra include poor tolerance to cold, diarrhea, skin rash, sore mouth or tongue, irritability, anxiety, low energy and depression. Good food sources of niacin include liver, chicken, beef, fish, fortified cereals, beans, nuts, avocados, tomatoes, leafy green vegetables, broccoli, carrots, asparagus, yams, mushrooms and whole grains.
Improve Cholesterol
Statin medications are effective for lowering LDL cholesterol, the type that deposits fatty substances in arteries, leading to the build-up of plaque and an increased risk of heart disease. Niacin, when taken daily, has the ability to lower LDL and also to raise HDL cholesterol, the kind that carries fat out of the arteries. MayoClinic reports niacin can boost HDL by 15 to 35 percent. Niacin also reduces triglycerides and inhibits the secretion of cholesterol by the liver.
Prevent Atherosclerosis
Niacin's ability to lower LDL and triglycerides may help prevent hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, but benefits do not end there. New properties of niacin were brought to light by F. Montecucco and colleagues at Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland. Niacin can inhibit the release of chemicals from fat that cause inflammation, an action independent of the vitamin's effects on cholesterol, and one that has the potential to prevent or reduce atherosclerosis. The findings were published in the October 2010 "Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy."
References
- Medline Plus: Niacin and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
- MayoClinic: Niacin to Boost Your HDL, Good Cholesterol
- PubMed: Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Once-Daily Niacin For the Treatment of Dyslipidemia Associated with Type 2 Diabetes, Grundy S.M., et. al., July 22, 2002, 162(14)
- PubMed: New Evidence For Nicotinic Acid Treatment to Reduce Atherosclerosis, Montecucco F., October 2010, 8(10)
Member Comments