One role of niacin is to release prostaglandins, or chemicals that help your blood vessels widen — improving blood flow and reducing blood pressure. For this reason, niacin may play a role in the prevention or treatment of high blood pressure ( 8). However, niacin is only effective as a cholesterol treatment at fairly high doses. These doses could pose risks, such as liver damage, gastrointestinal problems, or glucose intolerance. So don't treat yourself with over-the-counter niacin supplements. Instead, get advice from your health care provider, who can prescribe FDA-approved doses of niacin instead if recommended. Severe niacin deficiency, or pellagra, mostly occurs in developing countries, where diets are not as varied. It can be treated with niacinamide supplementation ( 1). Summary

Aspirin will also help to reduce the flushing. If you are already taking low-dose aspirin (81 to 325 mg daily) try taking it about 30 minutes before your first niacin dose of the day. Adequate Intake (AI): Intake at this level is assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy; established when evidence is insufficient to develop an RDA Niacin flush is a very common side effect of taking the immediate-release form of nicotinic acid. It’s so common that at least half of people who take high doses of immediate-release niacin supplements experience it ( 4, 5). Statins. Research indicates that taking niacin with these cholesterol medications offers little additional benefit when compared with statins alone, and might increase the risk of side effects.For these reasons, niacin is not a primary treatment for high cholesterol. It’s primarily used to help improve blood fat levels in people who cannot tolerate statin drugs ( 5, 7). 2. May reduce blood pressure For more on fat burner supplements, please read our PhenQ review or LeanBean The 12 Proven Health Benefits of Niacin Your brain needs niacin — as a part of the coenzymes NAD and NADP — to get energy and function properly.

Nicotinic acid in supplemental amounts beyond nutritional needs can cause skin flushing, so some formulations are manufactured and labeled as prolonged, sustained, extended, or timed release to minimize this unpleasant side effect. Nicotinamide does not produce skin flushing because of its slightly different chemical structure [ 2, 12]. Niacin supplements are also available in the form of inositol hexanicotinate, and these supplements are frequently labeled as being flush free because they do not cause flushing. The absorption of niacin from inositol hexanicotinate varies widely but on average is 30% lower than from nicotinic acid or nicotinamide, which are almost completely absorbed [ 12-14]. Two niacin-like compounds, nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN; also referred to as β-NMN), are also available as dietary supplements, but are not marketed or labeled as sources of niacin [ 11]. However, FDA ruled in November 2022 that NMN may not be legally marketed as a dietary supplement because it has been authorized for investigation by FDA as a new drug [ 15]. MedicationsNiacin is known to be used for the clinical therapy of atherosclerosis. Studies to date have pointed toward niacin’s ability to reduce hardening of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, for some people. As discussed in one scientific review, niacin has been shown to selectively increase the plasma levels of Lp-AI, a component of HDL that has a cardio-protective effect in patients with low HDL levels. ( 8) In addition, niacin supplementation has been shown to significantly decrease oxidative stress, which is known to contribute to atherosclerosis. ( 9, 10) The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) FoodData Central lists the nutrient content of many foods and provides a comprehensive list of foods containing niacin arranged by nutrient content . Dietary supplements If you’re wondering how long or how often to do a niacin flush as well proper dosage, always speak to your health care provider. Typically, doctors advise taking niacin with food and gradually increasing niacin dosage over the course of several weeks. Niacin extended-release supplements are often recommended. This version of niacin is designed to reduce the chance of skin flushing. It's better to take flush niacin if you are seeking benefits such as regulating already-healthy HDL and LDL cholesterol levels because no-flush niacin does not reliably have the same effects on lipids and cholesterol. If you really can't tolerate the flush, or your main goal is not to target lipids (fats), flush-free niacin is a good option. Both inositol hexanicotinate and niacinamide (nicotinamide) are flush-free. This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with Niacin Flush Free (inositol niacinate).

Reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. Niacin speeds the breakdown of apolipoprotein B in LDL (bad) cholesterol, causing less to be released by the liver. It can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol by 5–20% ( 11, 13, 14). No adverse effects have been reported from the consumption of natural Niacin, also known as vitamin B3 and niacinamide, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in heart health. A niacin flush can be a temporary side effect of taking niacin (vitamin B3), or it can be the intentional act of taking higher doses of niacin for a particular health concern. What are some niacin uses? For starters, niacin has been used since the 1950s to lower elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. ( 1) In high doses, niacin also supports already-healthy cholesterol levels. It helps regulate the healthy ratio between low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Research has shown that high-dose nicotinic acid, at amounts that may cause flushing in some people, may help promote balance in already-healthy HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.By some reports, virtually every person who takes high doses of nicotinic acid experiences flush ( 6). Niacin intake is essential for your health. Not only does it promote many health benefits, but it can also lower the risk of developing many medical conditions. No Flush Niacin 500 mg is to be taken as 1-2 a day and comes in vegetable capsule form, making it easy to absorb. This special no flush formula with Vitamin B3 contributes to:

Niacin flush is a common side effect of taking high doses of niacin supplements. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s harmless. Alcohol. Taking niacin with alcohol might increase the risk of liver damage and worsen niacin side effects, such as flushing and itching. Pazirandeh S. Overview of water-soluble vitamins. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Aug. 9, 2017. Cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), serum. Mayo Clinic Laboratories. https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/overview/8429#Clinical-and-Interpretive. Accessed March 16, 2022.Niaspan releases niacin more slowly but over a shorter period than other extended-release forms. This means there is less pressure on the liver to process niacin, reducing the risk of liver damage.