Vitamin B3, or niacin, is an essential nutrient required by the body to metabolize carbohydrates from foods into energy. It is also important for the function of the nervous system and digestive system and for healthy eyes, skin and hair. Though...
Niacin is a natural B vitamin found in plants and animals and used to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the bloodstream. Niacin is available in many different forms, and the most common side effect is flushing, particularly when taking high...
Cholesterol in your blood can build up in the walls of the arteries, resulting in a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis causes your arteries to become narrow and stiff, which can increase your blood pressure and raise your risk of...
High cholesterol can increase your risk of developing heart disease and having a heart attack. Many people can successfully lower their cholesterol levels by following a low-fat, low cholesterol diet that is high in fruits, vegetables and whole...
Niacin is commonly used to boost high-density lipoprotein, or “good” cholesterol. This lipid rids excess “bad” cholesterol from the bloodstream, which goes a long way toward improving your numbers. Like many medications,...
Niacin, or vitamin B-3, is one of the B-complex vitamins. Your body uses niacin for turning food into energy, making hormones, metabolizing proteins and fats, and keeping your eyes, hair, liver, skin and nervous system healthy. Consuming...
Niacin (nicotinic acid) is a b-complex vitamin commonly available over the counter as a dietary supplement. According to The Mayo Clinic (see references 1), higher doses of niacin are often prescribed to people who need to increase their HDL, or...
Niacin, also called nicotinic acid, belongs to the B vitamin complex group. Niacin is available as an over-the-counter dietary supplement and in high prescription doses to help increase your HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, levels. HDL picks up...
If you have high cholesterol, it is important to work with your doctor to establish good cholesterol management. Your body contains two types of cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, also called low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol, and HDL...
Niacin, also known as vitamin B-3, is one of eight essential B-vitamins. It is water soluble, meaning your body doesn't store the vitamin, so you have to eat foods containing niacin throughout the day. High dosages of niacin can be beneficial for...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is often associated with negative health. Cholesterol acts as a precursor to vitamin D, estrogen, testosterone and bile acids and forms a portion of your cell membranes. It is important to keep cholesterol...
Taking low-doses of certain over-the-counter medications sold as dietary supplements can help to lower your cholesterol and blood pressure. As two of the risk factors associated with heart disease, doctors recommend that you control your...
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid or vitamin B3, is a medication that doctors prescribe to help you manage cholesterol levels in your blood. You may take it alone or in combination with one of the statin drugs used for lowering cholesterol...
Niacin is a B vitamin available over-the-counter. However, high-dose prescription niacin is necessary to treat high cholesterol. Niacin works by increasing HDL, or "good," cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps process and eliminate LDL, or "bad,"...
Studies indicate that niacin may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease when combined with statin medications. This treatment may also help improve the outcomes in people currently with cardiovascular disease. However, you should seek the...
If you have high cholesterol, your doctor may decide to treat it with some type of medication. High levels of low-density lipoprotein -- also called LDL or bad cholesterol -- are especially alarming. LDL cholesterol is the portion of your...
High levels of LDL cholesterol, also known as "bad" cholesterol, can significantly increase your risk factors for heart disease and stroke. HDL cholesterol, also known as "good" cholesterol, travels through your bloodstream picking up LDL and...
Niacin, prescribed for more than 50 years, has proven successful in treating cholesterol. But you should not take inositol hexanicotinate, an over-the-counter remedy, to clear lipids from your bloodstream. Although both niacin and inositol...
Niacin, or vitamin B3, is beneficial in lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides while raising HDL (good) cholesterol. According to the American Heart Association, it is the most potent medicine for raising HDL cholesterol. It is available...
Niacin is a B vitamin and should be a part of a healthy diet. Niacin can provide you with some protective properties. In recent years, niacin has become more accepted as a treatment for high cholesterol. Niacin is available as a prescription drug...
Niacin is one of the oldest medications used to treat high cholesterol. Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is a vitamin that can have a powerful effect on a person's cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is usually divided into two types -- "good"...
Vitamins are substances that ideally come naturally from your diet, and each plays a role in helping your body function and remain healthy. When attempting to manage high cholesterol, diet changes, limits and additions, can work to help you lower...
Niacin is a type of B vitamin that is proven to lower cholesterol levels. Specifically, niacin boosts your HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, levels commonly known as the "good cholesterol." High HDL levels are healthy because HDL helps remove LDL,...
Niacin, or vitamin B-3, is a water-soluble vitamin that helps your body metabolize fats and protein, providing you with energy, and allows you to make various hormones. When taken in doses significantly higher than the vitamin recommendation,...
A high blood-cholesterol level can lead to the formation of artery-clogging plaques, which increase your chances of having a major heart attack or stroke. There two basic types of cholesterol are naturally produced by your liver; you also consume...
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood, manufactured by the liver and ingested from foods. It is essential for the formation of cell membranes, vitamin D and some hormones. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated...
Niacin is a B vitamin that doctors sometimes prescribe in high doses to help lower total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. In addition, niacin can also help increase high-density lipoprotein, or good, cholesterol,...
Niacin is a B vitamin present in foods including fish, nuts and eggs. A more concentrated form is also available in supplement form. You can purchase niacin over the counter. If you suffer from high cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe niacin...
Niacin is vitamin B-3. As a vitamin, niacin helps to make steroid hormones in the adrenal gland and helps to repair DNA. It also has effects on cholesterol levels in the blood. The diagnosis and treatment of cholesterol and other disorders should...