Niacin how does it lower cholesterol

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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Niacin to boost your HDL, 'good,' cholesterol. Products and services. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information.

Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Niacin and niacinamide vitamin B3. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Accessed Feb. Grover SA, et al. Evaluating the incremental benefits of raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels during lipid therapy after adjustment for the reductions in other blood lipid levels.

Archives of Internal Medicine. Singh IM, et al. High-density lipoprotein as a therapeutic target: A systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Association.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs. American Heart Association. Guyton JR, et al. Safety considerations with niacin therapy. American Journal of Cardiology. Statins are primarily used to help lower LDL cholesterol. Another benefit of statins is their ability to eliminate arterial cholesterol buildup.

This may reduce the risk of a heart attack, which is why statins are often prescribed to those with a high risk of heart disease. Certain groups of patients are more likely to be prescribed statins than others.

Women are less likely to be prescribed statins than men. The four groups most likely to be prescribed statins are:. Utilizing statins are often considered to be a lifetime commitment.

Cholesterol levels will increase if you stop taking the medication, keeping you on it indefinitely in many cases. Normally, niacin is derived from foods like chicken and tuna.

It helps your body use energy from food as well as promotes healthy eyes, hair, and skin. It also supports good digestion and your nervous system.

Niacin should not be used by people with liver disease, stomach ulcers, or active bleeding. It is sometimes used in people who have already had a heart attack. Doctors are currently debating whether niacin should be used in patients who have a high risk of heart disease. Niacin can also be used to boost your HDL cholesterol levels and decrease your levels of triglycerides, a type of fat that increases your risk of heart disease.

The Mayo Clinic estimates that taking niacin supplements may increase HDL levels by 30 percent or more. However, the amount of niacin needed to have this effect is much higher than the amount normally found in the diet. At these high levels, there can be some undesirable side effects, so be sure to talk to your doctor before beginning to take high doses of niacin. Niacin is widely available in vitamin stores, as well as in the supplement section of drugstores.

Some doctors recommend prescription forms for those who may benefit from high doses. It is common for doctors to prescribe more than one cholesterol medication. For instance, statins are sometimes taken with bile acid binding resins to help lower triglyceride levels. The jury is out when it comes to combining statins with niacin. Not only can it be dangerous, but the Mayo Clinic reports that there is little evidence that combining niacin with statin medications offers any real benefits.

While statins may be beneficial in cholesterol control, there are a few possible side effects. These include:. Such side effects are usually temporary when you first start the medication.

Those at greatest risk for experiencing side effects from statins include people who are already taking other medications, people 65 years and older, people with small frames, and women.

Such research suggests that niacin would be a great therapy to decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The science, however, is less than conclusive. A study published in followed 1, men who had a history of heart attack and compared those who took niacin at 3, milligrams per day to those who got a placebo.

After five years, the niacin group reported fewer heart attacks, but no difference in the death rate. After 15 years, however, the niacin group reported an 11 percent decrease in heart rates, with most of the decrease coming from a decrease in heart disease.

Studies of niacin in addition to a statin have not shown benefit in either decreasing death rates or decreasing the rates of heart attacks. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine assessed the impact of 1, milligrams of niacin in addition to the drug simvastatin in those with a history of cardiovascular disease. After three years, the authors found no impact on mortality.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine echoed these findings, with no benefit after 3. It may be that niacin, when taken with a statin, provides no additional bang for the buck.