Niacin is a vitamin also known as vitamin B-3. This nutrient helps transform foods into energy and helps you metabolize the fats and proteins you consume. Your body also needs niacin to produce certain hormones. If you have a deficiency, your doctor may recommend a supplement, or your doctor may prescribe niacin to help treat or prevent certain health conditions. Knowing how niacin may affect your body, including your eyes and vision, will help you monitor for any side effects.
Eye Effects
Vision changes from niacin may include blurring or cloudiness. These changes may occur from the presence of macular edema or other eye conditions that result from niacin use. In addition to vision changes, you may also experience inflammation of your eyelids, as well as discoloration. Your eyes may appear to bulge, you may have yellowing of the whites of your eyes, or you may lose your eyelashes or eyebrows. Once you stop taking niacin, the symptoms associated with these side effects should begin to disappear.
Other Side Effects
In addition to eye side effects, niacin use may cause a number of other systemic problems. A common side effect is tingling and flushing of the skin, much like a hot flash. You may experience stomach upset, skin rash, swelling of facial tissues, fainting and muscle pain. Other side effects include yellowing of the skin, sore throat, changes in heartbeat or blood in your stools.
Food Sources
Niacin from food sources does not typically cause side effects. If you experience problems taking niacin supplements, your doctor may recommend you increase your dietary intake of this nutrient. Food sources include chicken, beef, salmon, whole-wheat bread, lentils and lima beans. If your doctor recommends that you have a specific intake of niacin each day, she may work with you to create a food plan to include the necessary amount of this nutrient. You should eat a wide variety of foods to ensure that you have an adequate intake of all the vitamins and minerals your body requires.
Considerations
If you experience any changes in your vision, contact your doctor immediately. These vision problems, or other problems with your eyes, could indicate other conditions, and your doctor should evaluate these symptoms to determine if niacin caused these changes.
Do not start taking niacin without first consulting with your doctor since high doses of this nutrient may not offer the best treatment for you. Niacin may interact with certain medications, and your doctor can help you determine if you take these drugs that put you at an increased risk for niacin-associated reactions.
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