Niacin or Vitamin B3
This B vitamin works so well to lower cholesterol, some doctors prescribe it as a treatment
However, the American Heart Association recommends against niacin as a supplement because of its negative side effects.
To view the AHA’s comments on drugs for cholesterol, including niacin, click here.
According to the AHA, Niacin (nicotinic acid) comes in prescription form and as “dietary supplements.” Dietary supplement niacin is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the same way that prescription niacin is. It may contain widely variable amounts of niacin – from none to much more than the label states. The amount of niacin may even vary from lot to lot of the same brand.
- Dietary supplement niacin must not be used as a substitute for prescription niacin. It should not be used for cholesterol lowering because of potentially very serious side effects.
What is niacin, and where is it found?
Niacin is a B vitamin — vitamin B-3 to be precise — that is used by your body to convert carbohydrates into sugar (glucose), which your body then uses for energy. Niacin also helps keep your nervous system, digestive system, skin, hair and eyes healthy. That’s why niacin is often a part of a daily multivitamin, though most people get enough niacin from the food they eat.
What about niacin side effects, like flushing?
Niacin comes in many different forms, ranging from fast-acting forms to those that are longer acting. Some forms of niacin, especially in high doses — 1,000 milligrams or more — do cause temporary flushing of the skin. While annoying, this flushing is not harmful. Also, talk to your doctor about taking an aspirin shortly before you take your niacin. Aspirin can counteract this flushing effect. Versions of niacin with reduced flushing effects also are available by prescription.
Other possible side effects include upset stomach, headache, dizziness, and, in rare cases, liver damage. Niacin can also raise blood sugar in some people, so people with diabetes may not be able to use niacin.
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