Niacin

Niacin or Vitamin B3 has different brand names such as Niacin-Time, Niacinol, Niaspan, Nicobid, Nicolar, Slo-niacin. Niacin is a dietary supplement that also acts as antilipidemic or lipid-lowering agent. It is available in tablets or extended-release tablets. It as a dietary supplement prevents or treats niacin deficiency also known as pellagra.  Symptoms for niacin deficiency include: dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia.

It used as an antilipidemic requires large doses of niacin to be used to lower total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.  It is currently the most effective drug available to increase HDL cholesterol levels.  Niacin is needed for the proper action of enzymes involved in energy metabolism.  It reduces blood lipids by blocking partially the release of fatty acids from adipose or fat tissue and reducing the liver’s production of triglyceride-carrying lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). The recommended dietary allowances or RDAs for niacin are: children - 6 to 12 mg a day, adolescent and adult men – 16 mg per day, adolescent and adult women – 14 mg a day. For antilipidemic: 500 to 4,000 mg a day divided in meals.  Begin with a low dose and gradually increase to minimize side effects.  Extended-release tablets for antilipidemic: all doses are taken once a day at bedtime after a low-fat snack. Week one: 375 mg. Week two: 500 mg. Week three: 750 mg. Weeks four to seven: 1,000 mg.  After week 7, your doctor will determine your response to the dose.  Daily dose should not be increased to more than 500 mg in a 4-week period and doses above 2,000 mg daily are not recommended. Overdose symptoms include: flushing, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.  Pregnant women require 18 mg per day of niacin. For lactating women, dietary needs for 17 mg of it per day. Persons that have elevated blood lipids should have no more than 30% calories from fat, 10% calories from saturated fat and less than 300 mg a day of cholesterol.  The tablets should be stored away from heat and direct light.  In case you skipped a dose, do not double the next dose. Continue the regular dosage schedule.  If taking the niacin vitamin as an antilipidemic, do not stop unless instructed by doctor.  Side effects are observed with prolonged use.  For those over sixty years old, they may face the risk of increase side effects and develop diabetes. Inositol hexaniacinate is the best niacin nonprescription products.  It hooks six molecules of niacin onto another vit. B, inositol.  It has the good effect of niacin and almost no side effects such as flush and liver toxicity.  Time-release niacin can cause abnormalities in the liver function.  If you want the very best form of niacin then you require a doctor’s prescription.  Niaspan is a timed-release form that does not cause liver abnormalities if taken according to the dosage.  If you want to use inositol hexaniacinate take 500 mg three or four times a day.  Work with your doctor if you are using it to lower your cholesterol. Do not use it together with statin drugs without getting the doctor’s approval.  This could cause muscle inflammation.