Re: Niacin vs. Niacinamide

I like niacin, I take one 1000 mg. capsule a day. I enjoy the flushing effect. As I understand, it's a cleansing reaction:

http://www.mens-total-fitness.com/niacin-flush.html


"Niacin causes the capillaries (small blood vessels) in your body to get wider (bigger). The capillaries are usually extremely small and blood passes through them very slowly. The problem with this is that capillaries are the main way for your body to rid itself of toxins. Your arteries, in comparison, are much larger than capillaries and can carry more blood and at a faster rate, but they do not come near the majority of your body. Arteries are the "highways" of your body and capillaries are more like the small town road that you exit off of the highway from in order to get to your house. Your house, in this example, would be a cell somewhere in a remote part of your body that is full of toxins. Without sufficient blood flow (oxygen, and everything that comes along with it), this cell cannot rid itself of toxins. Now, imagine your city widening the road that goes by your house -- the traffic and speed limit would increase. The same is true for your capillaries. They will carry more blood, and at a faster rate. The end result is that your cells now have more blood to rid themselves of toxins throughout your body as the capillaries get wider.

Niacin causes the capillaries to get bigger, and the end result is the "flush". The increase in size of your capillaries causes, in some cases, a redness on your skin in the areas that it is occurring. This is the first part of niacin flush. The second reaction of niacin flush is the annoying, and sometimes painful itch that comes along with it. Niacin allows more blood to reach your cells to remove toxins from them. To help remove these toxins, the cells stimulate the body to release histamines, which cause the itch and signal more water, blood, and nutrients to the area."

It also increases growth hormone release:

http://healthcorrelator.blogspot.com/2010/06/niacin-turbocharges-growth-hormo...
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