Since the Niacin versus Zetia and Vytorin debate is heavily in the public eye, this is an excellent time to ‘Ask the Nutritionist’ exactly what the pros and cons to supplementation with Niacin are. After asking that question, our own nutritionist, Farhad Bassiri MS,CNS, CDN, had the following to share:

Niacin is one of the B vitamins ( B3 ) which can be very helpful in managing cholesterol. There are, however, some caveats required for appropriate implementation.

 

In order to be effective niacin needs  to be taken in divided doses totaling 500 mg to 1500mg per day. The draw back is that some people get flushing and palpitations from niacin, however, if taken with aspirin, this side effect is reduced. Conversely, if coffee or tea  is taken in tandem with niacin, flushing is exacerbated, which can be scary at first onset. In such cases flushing the body with pure water at the early onset can be very helpful.

The flushing reaction  can vary from person to person depending on their metabolic type. If you flush and itch within 1/2 hour of taking 50 mg of niacin it can indicate that you have a ‘meat eating’, or ‘protein type’ metabolism and need to be careful not to overdose.
Your body can become accustomed to taking niacin in moderation if you slowly raise the dosage and do not combine it with certain foods that trigger the allergic response, such as caffeine or a histamine producing food.

Another issue with niacin is that it can raise liver enzyme if taken in large amounts for extended periods. This can, however, be ameliorated with liver supporting supplements such as Milk thistle, NAC, Alpha Lipoic Acid  etc...

The good thing about niacin is that, contrary to statin drugs, it increases the energy level by improving the utilization (Oxidation) of food through the Kreb's Cycle in the body. It also raises the HDL the good cholesterol which is responsible for scavenging, cleaning the arteries and getting rid of bad cholesterol LDL through the bile which also carries the toxins out of the body.

Niacin also lowers Lpa ( a very bad lipid of genetic origin ) which is a high risk factor for vascular diseases. Lpa makes the blood very viscous, sticky and thick. Niacin also helps to lower triglycerides. Triglyceride levels can be another cardiac risk factor.

Niacin in large doses can raise blood sugar in diabetics, and uric acid in gout  patients. but if taken in lower doses with Niacin bound chromium, and plenty of water, it will not raise blood sugar as much, and water will assist in getting rid of excess uric acid in gout patients

Niacin in large and/or extended doses should be monitored by a health care practitioner , but overall is a very helpful adjunct in maintaining healthy cholesterol within the normal range. 

One final note is that niacin also comes in a ‘flush free’ form when it is combined with inositol as inositol hexanicotinate (IHN) which can be tolerated at higher doses. As previously stated, always check with your health care professional for your individual and specific needs and/or indications."

 

If you are seeking a nutrition professional and wish to contact Mr. Farhad Bassiri M.S., C.N.S., C.D.N., he can be reached at:  FBTClinicalNutritionist@Gmail.com 

 

*The above information on this webpage is not a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a qualified healthcare provider.

 

Here is an excellent video discussing the effectiveness of niacin in relation to prescription drugs Zetia and Vytorin