Re: Niacin experience

>- recommended daily allowance (RDA)

The RDA for vitamin D has been upped from 400 to 600. Most people in the US need at least 2000 to 4000 daily and even that does not achieve optimal levels for most.

The RDA is extremely outdated and is intended only to prevent the most obvious symptoms of deficiency. The RDA does not in any way approach the optimum for any vitamin. It is the last standard that I would rely on because it is a subsistence level of nutrition. My body and life demands the absolute best.

>- Hepatotoxicity is reported after months of daily doses of 500 to 750 mg/day.

Only in rare cases. I have taken 500 md minimum daily and often 1000 mg daily for 3 years now with NO Hepatotoxicity.

"A recent article stated that taking niacin (3 g/day) plus Zocor (simvastatin) lowers the "risk of stroke, heart attack, hospitalization, or death by 70%. Statin drugs alone reduce the risk of these events by only 25% to 35%." http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/413882


"patients who remained on niacin for ten years and received individual attention had a 90 percent decrease in mortality." ... "Since niacin is effective only in megavitamin doses, 1 gram three times per day, NIH is at last promoting megavitamin therapy." ... "When this drug plus diet did not decease cholesterol levels below 270 mg/100 mL they were given niacin, starting with 250 mg three times daily and increasing it every two to four weeks until a final dose of 3 to 8 grams per day was reached. To reduce the flush patients took aspirin (120 to 180 mg) with each dose for four to six weeks. With this dose of niacin they found no abnormal liver function test results." ... "Abnormalities of liver function only occurred when the dose of niacin increased rapidly." ... "Niacin is effective in decreasing the death rate and in expanding longevity for other conditions, not only cardiovascular diseases. It acts by protecting cells and tissues from damage by toxic molecules or free radicals." http://www.doctoryourself.com/hoffer_cardio.html


"The sustained-release preparations of niacin also are more likely to cause liver toxicity than the immediate-release preparations." http://www.medicinenet.com/drug_induced_liver_disease/page8.htm


"When doses of over 3 grams per day of niacin are taken, more serious side effects can happen. These include liver problems, gout, ulcers of the digestive tract, loss of vision, high blood sugar, irregular heartbeat, and other serious problems. Similar side effects can happen with large doses of niacinamide.
" http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/924.html


"Prominent organizations worldwide have approved immediate-release niacin (Niacor) up to 6 grams a day, and extended-release niacin (Niaspan) at 2 grams a day. The highest recorded overdose is 11 grams." http://www.liver-damage-website.com/liver_damage_niacin_poisoning.php


So, as stated in the articles above, other than flushing, Niacin is better tolerated than Niacinamide/nicotinamide and causes less liver damage. Niacin is also more beneficial than the niacinamide/nicotinamide form in reducing overall mortality as well as improving overall health benefits.

>- Read more: Niacin Side Effects on the Liver | eHow.com

Dr. Bob Goat is a writer, not a medical researcher and has taken literary and personal liberties in writiing this article. WHile E-how can be a source of information, anything read there is not necessarily authoritative. Especially the Expert insight.