Niacin - What You Need to Know

Niacin is a B vitamin found in a number of foods and sold in supplement form. Sometimes referred to as vitamin B3, niacin is also produced naturally by the body.

Known to play a key role in converting food into energy, niacin is considered essential to the function of the digestive system, skin, and nerves. Although niacin deficiency is very rare, some people use niacin supplements to help with certain health conditions.

Uses

In alternative medicine, niacin supplements are often touted as a natural remedy for the following health problems:

Additionally, niacin is used to slow the effects of aging, reduce stress, improve digestion, and stimulate circulation.

Benefits

Here's a look at the science behind the health benefits of niacin:

1) High Cholesterol

Taking niacin is likely effective in lowering cholesterol, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In fact, some niacin supplements are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as prescription medications for high cholesterol.

A number of clinical trials have indicated that niacin may help raise levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol and reduce levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol. However, in a recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that adding niacin to statin therapy had no cardiovascular benefit for patients with heart disease.

Published in 2011, the study involved 3,414 people with heart disease and atherosclerosis.

If you're considering the use of niacin in treatment of high cholesterol, talk to your doctor before starting your supplement regimen.

2) Alzheimer's Disease

Increasing your dietary intake of niacin may protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to a 2004 study from the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.

Analyzing six years of dietary data and cognitive assessments of 3,718 older adults, the study's authors found that niacin intake appeared to protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, higher food intake of niacin was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline.

3) Diabetes

A number of studies show that niacin may benefit people with diabetes. In a 2000 study from the Journal of the American Medical Association, for instance, researchers found that niacin helped protect against the low levels of HDL cholesterol that typically accompany diabetes. Although the study also found that niacin led to modest increases in blood sugar levels, the authors conclude that "niacin can be safely used in patients with diabetes."

Other Benefits

Although preliminary research suggests that niacin may help reduce pain in people with osteoarthritis and aid in the treatment of cataracts, more studies need to be conducted before niacin can be recommended for either condition.

Sources

Niacin is found in many foods, including:

dairy products
eggs
fish
lean meats
legumes
nuts
poultry

In addition, niacin can be found in enriched breads and cereals.

Caveats

While niacin is likely safe for most people, the NIH cautions that niacin may trigger certain side effects (including burning, tingling, itching, and reddening of the skin).

In some cases, niacin may also cause headache, stomach upset, dizziness, and gas.

Additionally, niacin supplements may be harmful to people with certain health conditions (including liver disease, kidney disease, gallbladder disease, and ulcers) and people taking certain medications (including blood pressure drugs, anti-diabetes drugs, and statins).

You can get additional tips on using supplements here.

Given these health concerns, it's important to seek medical advice if you're considering the use of niacin supplements.

Where to Find Them

Widely available for purchase online, niacin supplements are also available in most drugstores, grocery stores, and stores specializing in dietary supplements.

Using It for Health

If you're considering using niacin, talk to your doctor first. Keep in mind that alternative medicine should not be used as a substitute for standard care. Self-treating a condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences.

Sources:

_{AIM-HIGH Investigators, Boden WE, Probstfield JL, Anderson T, Chaitman BR, Desvignes-Nickens P, Koprowicz K, McBride R, Teo K, Weintraub W. "Niacin in patients with low HDL cholesterol levels receiving intensive statin therapy." N Engl J Med. 2011 Dec 15;365(24):2255-67.}

_{Brown BG, Zhao XQ, Chait A, Fisher LD, Cheung MC, Morse JS, Dowdy AA, Marino EK, Bolson EL, Alaupovic P, Frohlich J, Albers JJ. "Simvastatin and niacin, antioxidant vitamins, or the combination for the prevention of coronary disease." N Engl J Med. 2001 Nov 29;345(22):1583-92.}

_{Elam MB, Hunninghake DB, Davis KB, Garg R, Johnson C, Egan D, Kostis JB, Sheps DS, Brinton EA. "Effect of niacin on lipid and lipoprotein levels and glycemic control in patients with diabetes and peripheral arterial disease: the ADMIT study: A randomized trial. Arterial Disease Multiple Intervention Trial." JAMA. 2000 Sep 13;284(10):1263-70.}

_{Ganji SH, Kamanna VS, Kashyap ML. "Niacin and cholesterol: role in cardiovascular disease (review)." J Nutr Biochem. 2003 Jun;14(6):298-305.}

_{Guyton JR, Fazio S, Adewale AJ, Jensen E, Tomassini JE, Shah A, Tershakovec AM. "Effect of extended-release niacin on new-onset diabetes among hyperlipidemic patients treated with ezetimibe/simvastatin in a randomized controlled trial." Diabetes Care. 2012 Apr;35(4):857-60.}

_{Illingworth DR, Stein EA, Mitchel YB, Dujovne CA, Frost PH, Knopp RH, Tun P, Zupkis RV, Greguski RA. "Comparative effects of lovastatin and niacin in primary hypercholesterolemia. A prospective trial." Arch Intern Med. 1994 Jul 25;154(14):1586-95.}

_{Meyers CD, Kamanna VS, Kashyap ML. "Niacin therapy in atherosclerosis." Curr Opin Lipidol. 2004 Dec;15(6):659-65.}

_{National Institutes of Health. "Niacin and niacinamide (Vitamin B3): MedlinePlus Supplements." August 2011.}

_{Morris MC, Evans DA, Bienias JL, Scherr PA, Tangney CC, Hebert LE, Bennett DA, Wilson RS, Aggarwal N. "Dietary niacin and the risk of incident Alzheimer's disease and of cognitive decline." J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004 Aug;75(8):1093-9.}

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.