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Niacin effects on Cholesterol (Mechanism of Action)

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See Text below for more information about Niacin and its effects on Lipids overall. Niacin (or Nicotinic Acid) is a form of vitamin B3. Niacin is one of the essential nutrients for the human body. Niacin deficiency can cause pellagra, while insufficient niacin in the diet can cause nausea, skin and mouth lesions, anemia, headaches, and tiredness. A recommended daily allowance of niacin would be 2–12 mg/day for children, 14 mg/day for women, 16 mg/day for men, and 18 mg/day for pregnant or breast-feeding women. Niacin in much higher doses than those recommended as daily dietary allowance is a potent agent against Dyslipidaemia. In doses as high as 1.500 – 2.000mg is proven to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol by 20%, increase HDL (good) Cholesterol by 30%, and also reduce Triglycerides by almost 40%. It is also proven to reduce the atherogenic fraction of LDL: Lp(a), and apolipoprotein Apo-B (which is the carrier of lipids in LDL-C). Two large studies have been conducted with these doses of Niacin with patients under treatment with Statins. (AIM-HIGH & HPS2-THRIVE). These studies concluded that there is no added cardiovascular benefit by concomitant use of high doses of Niacin along with statin treatment, when LDL-C levels are already very low. It seems though that Niacin treatment is effective in patients not treated with statins. Niacin in such high doses can cause Flushing. Another form of vitamin B3 is Nicotinamide, but only Niacin has been found to have this strong effect on dyslipidaemia.

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