Psoriasis is a complex disorder that is caused by problems with the immune system. Some research has found that drugs used to treat psoriasis may work on some of the same parts of cells that are affected by niacin, suggesting that niacin could be used to treat psoriasis. More research needs to be done on the effects of niacin for psoriasis.
What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, which means that it is caused by your immune system attacking healthy cells in your body. In the case of psoriasis, your immune system attacks your skin cells. The resulting inflammation causes your skin cells to divide more rapidly, causing skin lesions that often have silvery scales. If you have psoriasis, you may also develop joint pain, severe dandruff, changes to your nails or genital lesions.
What Is Niacin?
Niacin is one of the B vitamins, a class of vitamins that are important for allowing the body to turn proteins, fats and carbohydrates into usable forms of energy. Niacin is also important for making different hormones in your body and regulates circulation and lipid levels in your blood. Niacin supplements are often taken by people who want to increase their HDL cholesterol levels. Traditionally, niacin has not been used as a psoriasis treatment, but some researchers have suggested it may be useful in treating psoriasis.
Research on Niacin and Psoriasis
One of the studies that suggests a role for niacin in treating psoriasis was published in a 2008 issue of "Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications." This study found that one commonly used drug for psoriasis, monomethylfumarate, binds to proteins known as nicotinic acid receptors. Niacin also binds to these receptors, suggesting that niacin supplements could produce some of the same effects as monomethylfumarate for people who suffer from psoriasis.
Considerations
Although niacin may be useful as a treatment for psoriasis, its effectiveness in humans has not been tested, so you should not take niacin as a substitute for prescription medications for your psoriasis. Currently, the evidence that niacin can help psoriasis is based only on studies of cultured cells. Niacin can also cause significant side effects, such as flushing, nausea, headache and may damage your liver, so talk to your doctor before taking niacin or any other supplement.
