Sometimes the supplements you take can have unintended side effects. Although niacinamide is safe for many people to use, it can cause some health problems, including the exacerbation of gout in some susceptible individuals. Talk to your doctor before taking niacinamide or any other supplement, particularly if you have a history of gout.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is one form of niacin, also known as vitamin B-3. Niacin is often added to cereals and breads to prevent niacin deficiencies. A lack of niacin, also known as pellagra, causes diarrhea, skin lesions, sores and changes in your mental status. High doses of niacin may also be used to prevent cardiovascular disease by increasing your high-density lipoprotein or "good" cholesterol levels while also lowering low-density lipoprotein or "bad" cholesterol levels.
Gout
Gout is an extremely painful form of arthritis that typically presents as sudden swelling in the joints of the big toe that is so agonizing that even the pressure of a bed sheet causes intense pain. Gout can flare up suddenly from time to time and then completely regress. Gout can cause permanent joint damage, and the pain during a flare-up may be debilitating.
How Niacinamide Affects Gout
Gout is caused by crystals made out of uric acid accumulating in the fluid in your joints. Uric acid crystals form when the levels of this chemical build up in your blood. High doses of niacinamide and other forms of niacin can trigger gout because niacin can reduce the excretion of uric acid by the kidneys, causing elevated levels of uric acid in your blood.
Considerations
If you have a history of gout, you may need to avoid certain foods and drink a lot of water if you want to take niacin to increase your HDL levels. You may also want to explore other treatments, as there are other drugs you can take to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, and niacin can cause serious side effects other than gout. As a result, talk to your doctor before taking niacinamide or any other supplement.
