Niacin is a vitamin that acts as an antioxidant and plays a role in cell signaling and DNA repair. Deficiency is characterized by skin problems, memory loss, and digestive problems. For ages 7 months and older, it is expressed as mg niacin equivalents NE. One NE is equal to 1 mg of niacin or 60 mg of tryptophan 1. The recommended amount of niacin depends on your age and gender.
Men need 16 mg NE per day, while women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding need 14 mg NE per day. This may translate to a decrease in heart disease risk, although several studies have found no link between niacin supplementation and a decrease in heart disease risk or deaths 4 , 5. It also takes high doses of niacin, typically 1, mg or greater, to achieve blood fat level improvements, which increases the risk of experiencing unpleasant or potentially harmful side effects 6.
For these reasons, niacin is not a primary treatment for high cholesterol. 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. A high quality study also noted that single doses of mg and mg of niacin slightly reduced right ventricular systolic pressure 9.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body attacks and destroys insulin-creating cells in your pancreas. On one hand, it can help lower the high cholesterol levels that are often seen in people with type 2 diabetes. On the other, it has the potential to increase blood sugar levels. As a result, people with diabetes who take niacin to treat high cholesterol also need to monitor their blood sugar carefully Fortunately, a more recent review of studies found that niacin did not have significant negative effects on blood sugar management in people with type 2 diabetes In fact, brain fog and even psychiatric symptoms are associated with niacin deficiency 1 , However, results are mixed 15 , It may help prevent certain types of skin cancer as well.
One high quality study in over people at high risk of skin cancer found that taking mg of nicotinamide twice daily reduced rates of nonmelanoma skin cancer compared to a control Niacin can help treat many conditions. It appears to exert positive effects on blood fat and blood pressure levels, and may play a role in type 1 diabetes, brain health, and skin cancer prevention. However, more research is needed. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice.
You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products. Skip to content The Nutrition Source. Harvard T. The Nutrition Source Menu. Search for:. Niacin and Health Cardiovascular disease For more than 40 years, niacin in the form of nicotinic acid has been given to patients to treat a condition called dyslipidemia, a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases CVD such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, and strokes.
Though earlier clinical trials showed a reduction in CVD events and deaths with niacin therapy, two more recent large clinical trials on CVD outcomes concluded differently. Niacin supplements were given 1,, mg daily , alone in one trial and with a statin medication in the other. Both trials concluded that taking niacin supplements did not show benefit. Cognitive health A severe niacin deficiency has been associated with cognitive decline such as memory loss and dementia.
It may be good for other skin conditions, too. In a double-blind trial by the State University of New York , the topical application of a 4 percent niacinamide gel twice a day for two months resulted in a similar acne improvement when compared to 1 percent clindamycin gel. Those who have intimacy problems may also benefit from niacin. According to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, vitamin B3 was found to improve the ability to maintain an erection in men with moderate to severe erectile dysfunction.
A recent animal study suggested that niacin may be helpful in preventing inflammatory bowel disease and colitis. The study, published in Scientific Reports , found that rats that were given niacin and then induced with colitis saw less colonic damage than those who did not receive niacin.
The authors attribute this protection to niacin's anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects. Angiogenic means the formation and development of blood vessels. Niacin is known for lowering LDL bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Additionally, the Mayo Clinic reported that niacin could raise HDL good cholesterol by more than 30 percent. Therefore, niacin has been a major part of treating high cholesterol for at least 50 years.
But a large-scale study has caused some health professionals to revisit that view. The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine , examined to year-olds with cardiovascular disease. DO NOT take niacin if you have a history of gout.
People with coronary artery disease or unstable angina should not take niacin without their doctor's supervision, as large doses can raise the risk of heart rhythm problems. Taking any one of the B vitamins for a long period of time can result in an imbalance of other important B vitamins. For this reason, you may want to take a B-complex vitamin, which includes all the B vitamins. Because of its impact on the liver, vitamin B3 can interact with several medications.
If you are currently taking medications, or regularly drink alcohol, you should not use niacin without talking to your health care provider first. Below is a partial list of medications that may interact with vitamin B3. Antibiotics, tetracycline: Niacin should not be taken at the same time as the antibiotic tetracycline because it interferes with the absorption and effectiveness of this medication.
All vitamin B complex supplements act in this way and should be taken at different times from tetracycline. Aspirin: Taking aspirin before taking niacin may reduce flushing from niacin. But take it only under your doctor's supervision. Anti-seizure medications: Phenytoin Dilantin and valproic acid Depakote may cause niacin deficiency in some people.
Taking niacin with carbamazepine Tegretol or mysoline Primidone may increase levels of these medications in the body. Anticoagulants blood thinners : Niacin may make the effects of these medications stronger, increasing the risk of bleeding. Blood pressure medications, alpha-blockers: Niacin can make the effects of medications taken to lower blood pressure stronger, leading to the risk of low blood pressure.
Cholesterol-lowering medications: Niacin binds the cholesterol-lowering medications known as bile-acid sequestrants and may make them less effective. For this reason, niacin and these medications should be taken at different times of the day.
Bile-acid sequestrants include colestipol Colestid , colesevelam Welchol , and cholestyramine Questran. Statins: Some scientific evidence suggests that taking niacin with simvastatin Zocor appears to slow the progression of heart disease. However, the combination may also increase the likelihood for serious side effects, such as muscle inflammation or liver damage. Diabetes medications: Niacin may increase blood sugar levels.
People taking insulin, metformin Glucophage , glyburide Dibeta, Micronase , glipizide Glucotrol , or other medications used to treat high blood glucose levels should monitor their blood sugar levels closely when taking niacin supplements. Nicotine patches: Using nicotine patches with niacin may worsen or increase the risk of flushing associated with niacin. The role of niacin in raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to reduce cardiovascular events in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and optimally treated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol Rationale and study design.
Am Heart J. Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatol Surg. Toth PP. The therapeutic role of niacin in dyslipidemia management. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. Simvastatin and niacin, antioxidant vitamins, or the combination for the prevention of coronary disease.
N Engl J Med. Diet and cataract: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Niacinamide-containing facial moisturizer improves skin barrier and benefits subjects with rosacea.
Effects 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.
Garcia-Closas R. Food, nutrient and heterocyclic amine intake and the risk of bladder cancer.
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