Niacin is also called vitamin B3 or niacinamide. It is a vital water-soluble vitamin that is present in many common foods. These include some kinds of meat and organ meat, tuna, seeds, mushrooms, and others.
Niacin is a member of the vitamin B group. Other vitamins that have this status are thiamine, riboflavin, and others.
Niacin appears in three different forms: nicotinic acid, niacinamide, and inositol hexaniacinate. Niacin has been the subject of much research and is useful for treating many typical health issues.
Niacin is a crucial vitamin for promoting a good cardiovascular and metabolic system. It is particularly important for maintaining proper cholesterol levels. Also, it aids in maintaining proper brain function, healthy skin, and staving off diabetes.
According to recent research, there are possible side effects that can happen when ingesting supplements in larger doses. These side effects include headaches, dizziness, low blood pressure, and others.
It is unlikely that you will experience side effects from eating foods that are rich in niacin. However, you might experience them if you take supplements. Also, medications that contain niacin in large quantities may cause some issues. These include muscle pain, digestive distress, and skin inflammation. Despite the possibility of side effects, niacin has several important uses and is commonly prescribed.
1. Cholesterol
Niacin is used by doctors to aid in reducing dangerously high cholesterol levels. It has been shown to inhibit the possibility of cardiovascular disease in people with mixed dyslipidemia. This is a heightening of plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, or both.
Research has indicated that niacin has been demonstrated to be useful for people who are at an elevated risk for heart problems because of high LDL, low HDL, and elevated triglycerides.
Many studies have indicated that niacin can heighten levels of HDL and lower triglycerides in the same way that prescription drugs can.
Niacin also aids in lowering LDL. It is many times prescribed together with statin drugs to control cholesterol. These drugs include Crestor, Lescol, and Lipitor.
Niacin side effects that may affect heart health are currently being researched. However, it is currently thought that the positive effects of the substance outweigh the possible risks for negative side effects.
