Niacin, commonly known
as Vitamin B-3, is an essential nutrient which most of us simply do not get
enough of through today’s foods alone. Of particular importance is that Niacin is
proving beneficial for those on Statin medications for cholesterol control. In
numerous studies, Niacin has been shown to lower cholesterol. It diminishes the
volume of fat your body breaks down in fatty tissues. In doing so, Niacin
reduces the amount of LDL (bad cholesterol) that your liver makes and
processes, which can also help lower the risk of fatty liver disease.
(NOTE: There is a harmless flushing of the skin that typically occurs in many individuals who take Niacin, but it generally dissipates in about 20 minutes. Taking Niacin with food can help lessen that effect.)
(NOTE: There is a harmless flushing of the skin that typically occurs in many individuals who take Niacin, but it generally dissipates in about 20 minutes. Taking Niacin with food can help lessen that effect.)
A report from
Orthomolecular Medicine New Service (OMNS) reads in part:
“….The safest, most effective, and
cheapest treatment for high cholesterol is a vitamin that costs 7 cents per
pill. Niacin or nicotinic acid has been safely used for 60 years to control
cholesterol, with some 42,000 scientific papers in PubMed describing its
benefits and effects….”
Several research studies
have been done on Niacin and cholesterol reduction including:
- (Guyton JR, Goldberg AC, et al. “Effectiveness of once-nightly dosing of extended-release niacin alone and in combination for hypercholesterolemia.” Am J Cardiol. 1998;82:737-743.)
- (Guyton JR, Blazing MA, et al. “Extended-release niacin vs gemfibrozil for the treatment of low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.” Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:1177-1184.)
- (Morgan JM, Capuzzi DM, et al. “Treatment effect of a controlled-release niacin in patients with hypercholesterolemia”. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther . 1996;1:195-202.)
In addition, there are
many other benefits that Niacin has in the body which many of us are not aware
of.
For statin users who
are typically fatigued, you may be surprised to know that B-3 (Niacin) is
critical in the function of converting proteins, carbohydrates, and fats into
energy. It has also proven to be a valuable nutrient in improving circulation
and boosting memory power, as well as general functioning of the brain.
There are now dozens
of studies that show Niacin has been used to improve mental health and memory,
as well as being a tremendous aid for diabetes patients in controlling their
blood sugar. (Memory loss has been reported as a side effect of statin drugs.)
Niacin is very
important in the manufacture of sex hormones in the body, and may play a role
for those who are having sexual dysfunction issues (which can be another side
effect of statins). The fact that Niacin improves the circulatory system,
delivering more blood and more nutrients to areas of the body, may prove to be
important in solving the sexual problems one may encounter.
B-3 (Niacin) has been
shown to be severely deficient in people with weak muscles, indigestion, skin
irritations, or pellagra.
The good news is that
typically men and women can get what they need in about 20mg a day of B-3, and
being a water-based vitamin, what the body doesn't need is washed out in the
form of urine. However, you require a constant supply of Niacin, so, particularly
if you are taking statin drugs for cholesterol, be sure to speak with your
doctor about adding this.
* Product(s) listed
here can be found at EssentialVitaminsAndMinerals.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment