By Muscle Media
The following article is not meant to serve as a dietary prescription. Be sure to consult with your doctor before beginning any supplementation.
Brands
Niacin or Vitamin B3 has different brand names such as Niacin-Time, Niacinol, Niaspan, Nicobid, Nicolar, Slo-niacin. It is a dietary supplement that also acts as a lipid-lowering agent. It is available in tablets or extended-release tablets. As a dietary supplement it prevents or treats niacin deficiency also known as pellagra. Symptoms include dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia. As an antilipidemic, it requires large doses to lower total, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. It is currently the most effective drug available to increase HDL cholesterol levels.
Energy
Niacin is needed for the proper action of enzymes involved in energy metabolism. It reduces blood lipids by partially blocking the release of fatty acids from adipose or fat tissue and reducing the liver’s production of triglyceride-carrying lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). The recommended dietary allowances or RDAs for niacin are: children-6 to 12 mg a day. For adolescent and adult men–16 mg per day, adolescent and adult women–14 mg a day. Overdose symptoms include flushing, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Side effects are observed with prolonged use. Those over sixty years old may face the risk of increase side effects and develop diabetes.
Prescription
Inositol hexaniacinate is the best niacin nonprescription products. It hooks six molecules of niacin onto another vitamin B, (inositol). It has the good effect of niacin and almost no side effects such as flush and liver toxicity. Time-release can cause abnormalities in the liver function. If you want the very best form, then you require a doctor’s prescription. Niaspan is a timed-release form that does not cause liver abnormalities if taken according to the dosage. If you want to use inositol hexaniacinate take 500 mg three or four times a day. Remember: work with your doctor before beginning any supplementation. Do not use it together with statin drugs without getting the doctor’s approval. This could cause muscle inflammation.
