How To Minimize The Flushing Side Effects Of Niacin

Niacin is a naturally occurring vitamin in your food, especially found in grains, poultry and seafood. It is also sometimes called vitamin B3. Some people are especially sensitive to niacin and experience a hot, uncomfortable flush all over their bodies after taking a niacin supplement. The cause of the flush occurs because niacin dilates your capillaries, the tiny blood vessels close to the surface of your skin. The intensity of niacin flush is dependent on the size and timing of your dose and the type of niacin you take. Niacin is sometimes used to lower blood cholesterol, but you should talk to your doctor before adding a new supplement to your regimen or changing any of your prescriptions.

Step 1

Start your niacin regimen with small doses and work your way up as you build tolerance. The smaller the amount of niacin in your dose, the smaller the size of your reaction to it. You can even break your doses up to take several times throughout the day if you need to take more niacin than you can tolerate at once.

Step 2

Take niacin with your meals to slow its absorption. Food and fluids in your stomach will reduce the effects of flushing by slowing the release of niacin into your system. Drink plenty of water with your meals and throughout the day because dehydration intensifies the flushing effect.

Step 3

Avoid alcohol while you are on a niacin supplement regimen. Alcohol dilates your capillaries as well as mildly dehydrates you, which both intensify the flushing symptoms.

Step 4

Take a time-released niacin. These supplements mimic the effects you achieve by taking several small doses or taking niacin with a meal because they release smaller amounts of niacin over several hours.

Step 5

Choose the IHN, inositol hexanicotinate, form of niacin rather than nicotinic acid. IHN purportedly does not cause the same flushing side effects as nicotinic acid.