Niacin: The Cholesterol Lowering Vitamin

  Contributed by: Maggie Carey, Pharm.D. Candidate

                        KU School of Pharmacy
Text Box: Cholesterol. It’s something that you hear about more and more on television. You hear that it is bad for you, and then the advertisements talk about prescription drugs. You hear that high cholesterol can cause heart attacks, strokes and block important arteries and veins in the body. What they do not always tell you is that you can take steps at home to decrease your cholesterol level by lifestyle changes and potentially an over-the-counter (OTC) product called Niacin. What is Cholesterol? Cholesterol is a steroid/alcohol and a fat found in the cell membrane of all body tissues and transported in the blood of all animals. Cholesterol is produced in the human body by the liver. The three components of cholesterol are Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL)-the bad cholesterol, High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)-the good cholesterol, and Triglycerides (TG)-made from sugars. LDL cholesterol is the cholesterol that causes the problems in the body such as building up along the artery walls and causing a heart attack or stroke. A normal functional liver will filter out the excess of cholesterol in the blood. But when the liver is not filtering out the excess or the person is eating high cholesterol foods, the cholesterol builds up in the body. What is Niacin? Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for the growth, health, and reproduction in the body. In the body niacin is used for cell respiration, for the release of energy and for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Niacin also helps Text Box: in the function of the digestive system, healthiness of the skin, and the nervous system. When additional niacin is taken, it can improve the blood cholesterol profile. Niacin comes in 100 milligram (mg), 250 mg, and 500 mg tablets in the OTC section of the pharmacy. Niacin can sometimes be found as part of the B-vitamin complex. Niacin naturally occurs in dairy products, poultry, fish, lean meats, nuts, eggs, legumes, and enriched breads and cereals. Niacin is decreased in foods that are cooked in water. What are brand names of Niacin? Niacor, Niaspan, and Slo-Niacin What are synonyms of Niacin? Nicotinic Acid and Vitamin B3 How does Niacin work? Niacin is responsible for lipid metabolism and inhibits the making of the Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL) which can then be converted to LDL. Niacin can decrease the LDL’s by 5-25%, increase the HDL’s by 15-35%, and decrease the TG’s by 20-50%. What are the side effects associated with Niacin? Flushing or redness of the face due to dilating of the blood vessels, high blood glucose levels, itching, dizziness, high uric acid levels also known as gout, upper gastrointestinal irritation, liver toxicity, and peptic ulcers. The side effects are more common with daily doses of more than 100 mg. Take Niacin with food and avoid alcohol when taking your Niacin dose. Text Box: What are the warnings against using Niacin? People with diabetes, glaucoma, liver damage, gout, or peptic ulcers should not take niacin without first consulting their physician. What is the dosing of Niacin? Normal dietary intake of Niacin for males is 18 mg and 13 mg for females. For people who want to take Niacin as a supplement, 100 mg a day is the standard dose. People trying to achieve lower cholesterol levels need much higher Niacin doses, approximately 500 mg or more a day. To decrease the effects of the flushing, a gradual increase of the dose may be done. Taking an 81 mg aspirin 30-60 minutes before the Niacin dose will also reduce the flushing. Do not take Niacin without first consulting your physician. OTC Niacin is not regulated by the FDA and should be discussed with your physician before using. Where can more information about Niacin be found? http://medlineplus.gov/ or talk to your local pharmacist or physician Text Box: Next Page Text Box: Previous Page