Niacin can be found in foods such as yeast, beans, fish, meat, green vegetables, cereal grains, milk, and eggs. When taken in large amounts, niacin gets converted to niacinamide in the body. Niacin is required for the normal function of sugars and fats in the body and to maintain healthy cells. It is sometimes used as a treatment option for high cholesterol.
Niacin is generally used for the maintenance of good health.
It is also used to:
Niacin has also traditionally been used for high cholesterol. It is especially effective in increasing the “good” cholesterol HDL and decreasing triglycerides. It is also used to prevent and treat diseases caused by niacin deficiency such as pellagra (symptoms include skin irritation, diarrhea, and dementia).
People have also used niacin for managing Alzheimer’s disease, cataracts, diarrhea due to cholera, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and osteoarthritis. Research suggests that niacin is likely effective for treating high cholesterol and niacin deficiency (including pellagra). However, there is not enough reliable information for its other uses.
Your health care provider may have recommended this product for other conditions. Contact a health care provider if you have questions.
Niacin is likely safe when taken at recommended doses. Pregnant or breast-feeding women should avoid large doses of niacin because there is a lack of safety information for high doses.
At doses higher than 10 mg per day, niacin can cause temporary skin flushing, which may include burning, tingling, itching, headaches, and redness on the face, arms, and chest. Hot drinks or alcohol can make flushing worse when taken with niacin.
Flushing may be reduced by:
Other side effects include gastrointestinal problems such as stomach upset, dizziness, nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, vomiting, and bloating.
Niacin may increase your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check with your health care provider before using niacin. You may need to check your blood sugar more often when using niacin.
Niacin may also increase your risk of bleeding and should be used with caution if you have bleeding disorders or are taking agents that can increase this risk (e.g., anticoagulants, aspirin).
Ask your doctor if you need to have regular liver function tests while you are taking niacin. You should also see your doctor before taking niacin if you have angina, gout, heart disease, fatty deposits in the tendons (tendon xanthomas), gallbladder disease, low blood pressure, or thyroid problems.
There may be an interaction between niacin and any of the following:
Stop taking niacin at least 2 weeks before surgery.
Do not use niacin if you have:
Before taking any new medications, including natural health products, speak to your physician, pharmacist, or other health care provider. Tell your health care provider about any natural health products you may be taking.
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