Nicotinic acid and inositol hexanicotinate are two forms of vitamin B-3, also called niacin. Nicotinic acid, the subject of more than 34,000 studies, provides proven benefits and risks. Studies involving inositol hexanicotinate measure less than three dozen, and all but one dates back to 1988 or earlier based on a search of PubMed, an online database of medical information provided by the National Institutes of Health. Talk to your doctor before taking vitamin B-3 in any form.
Vitamin B-3
Vitamin B-3 comes in three forms: nicotinic acid, niacinamide and inositol hexanicotinate. You need a prescription to purchase therapeutic doses of nicotinic acid. If you purchase over-the-counter B-3 supplements, they will contain either niacinamide or inositol hexanicotinate. Doctors have prescribed nicotinic acid for more than 50 years. Studies currently underway may find a medical use for inositol hexanicotinate. Currently, no scientifically validated reason exists for taking inositol hexanicotinate in supplement form.
Nicotinic Acid Benefits
Nicotinic acid proves effective in improving three types of lipids in your bloodstream: low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein. It helps reduce levels of LDL -- "bad" cholesterol -- and triglycerides, a type of fat that can accumulate in your arteries. Nicotinic acid also helps increase your levels of HDL, the "good" cholesterol that helps your body get rid of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Nicotinic acid also helps clear plaque from your arteries. Plaque can cause arteriosclerosis, a condition that narrows and hardens the walls of your arteries, increasing your risk for heart attacks and strokes.
Inositol Hexanicotinate
An older study demonstrated potential for the use of inositol hexanicotinate in the treatment of Raynaud's disease, a condition that narrows your arteries and may make your nose, ears, toes and fingers turn cold or numb in response to stress or cool temperatures. G.T. Sunderland, a researcher at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in Scotland, led the small study published in March 1988 in "Clinical Rheumatology." The study's 23 patients either received 4 g of inositol hexanicotinate or a placebo. The group that took inositol hexanicotinate reported fewer attacks during the trial. MayoClinic.com does not recommend taking inositol hexanicotinate to treat Raynaud's so ask your doctor before taking it for this or any purpose.
Considerations
Inositol hexinicotinate is under study at the time of publication as a possibly safe and effective alternative to nicotinic acid, Nicotinic acid presents both mild and serious side effects, including diarrhea, nausea, headaches, skin flushes, ulcers, gout, liver damage and vision loss. It can worsen kidney disease and create unhealthy blood sugar elevations in persons with type 2 diabetes. The National Institutes of Health ended a niacin study in May 2011 amid safety concerns. Participants in the study who took 2,000 mg of nicotinic acid daily suffered twice as many strokes as participants who did not take niacin.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vitamin B3 (Niacin); June 18, 2009
- Medline Plus: Niacin and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
- American Heart Association;Atherosclerosis and Stroke; April 21, 1011
- MayoClinic.com; Arteriosclerosis/Atherosclerosis -- Risk Factors; June 23, 2010
- National Institutes of Health: NIH Halts Clinical Trial on Combination Cholesterol Treatment; May 26, 2011
- "Clinical Rheumatology"; A Double Blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial of Hexopal in Primary Raynaud's Disease; G.T. Sunderland, et al; March 1988
