Niacin is one of the water-soluble B vitamins, B-3. It plays a role in helping chemical reactions in the body, and it is needed for the maintenance of cellular function and therefore good health. Higher doses are sometimes used to treat elevated levels of triglycerides. A physician, dietitian or other qualified healthcare professional should be consulted regarding administration of niacin for high triglycerides.
General Functions of Niacin
Niacin is a precursor molecule to NADH and NADPH, which are important in building up and breaking down chemicals for energy use and storage. In addition, niacin helps enzymes to repair DNA. Niacin helps to synthesize steroid hormones in the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys.
Lipids
Smaller doses of niacin are responsible for basic bodily functions, but higher levels, given pharmacologically, are used for improving the composition of fat-like molecules called lipids in the blood. Commonly measured lipids include the triglycerides, or fats; low-density lipoprotein, or LDL; high-density lipoprotein, or HDL; and total cholesterol. Lipoproteins are combinations of cholesterol, fatty acids and protein. LDL and HDL are commonly known as bad and good cholesterol, respectively. High levels of LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low levels of HDL are associated with atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arteries in which plaque is deposited inside the artery walls. The plaque builds up and restricts blood flow, leading to heart attacks, strokes and other coronary diseases.
Effects and Mechanism of High-Dose Niacin
High-dose niacin lowers triglycerides. It also lowers LDL and raises HDL, lowering the risks of developing heart disease and other diseases associated with atherosclerosis. One mechanism of these actions is that large doses of niacin prevent the breakdown of fats in the tissues, which are used by the liver to make lipoproteins such as LDL.
Side Effects
The most common side-effect of niacin is skin flushing, consisting of heat and redness of the skin, particularly in the face. It can also cause nausea, abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea. In addition, it may cause changes in blood pressure, and in rare cases it may cause liver or muscle damage. Flushing can be reduced by taking aspirin, according the directions of a physician or other qualified healthcare practitioner.
References
- "Nutrition Concepts and Controversies"; Frances Sizer and Ellie Whitney; 11th ed. 2007
- "Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease"; Vinay Kumar, et al.; 8th ed. 2009
- "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology"; Bertram Katzung, Susan Masters and Anthony Trevor; 11th ed. 2009
