The benefits of niacin include improved circulation, lowered cholesterol, healthy skin, prevention of diabetes, and treatment for osteoarthritis.
Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is naturally produced in the body and is found in many of the foods we eat. These include meats, tuna fish, poultry products, eggs, peanuts, vegetables, cheeses, potatoes, oats, brown rice, barley, wheat flakes and milk. Also rich in vitamin B3 are foods such as cereals and breads therefore they improve the benefits of niacin.
Niacin and Circulation
Histamine which niacin helps to produce is a compound that is capable of dilating blood vessels, which in turn improves circulation. This helps blood to circulate to the hands, feet and all parts of the body, which helps to prevent atherosclerosis or what is sometimes called hardening of the arteries. An additional effect of this benefit of niacin is reducing the risk of heart attack or other vascular diseases.
Niacin Lowers Cholesterol Levels
In spite of the many different cholesterol medications on the market one of the best benefits of Niacin is the lowering low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels. In addition to lowering LDL, the bad cholesterol, B3 or niacin increases the good cholesterol HDL or high-density lipoprotein levels. The HDL levels can be increased by as much as 15 to 35 percent, which is more significant than the 5 to 25 percent lowering of the LDL, which is still impressive nonetheless. If you have had a heart attack studies have shown that taking cholesterol-lowering drugs in combination with niacin can decrease the likelihood of a second heart attack.
Healthy Skin and Niacin
Niacin can help keep skin healthy and is used for a variety of skin problems, including inflammation, acne, rosacea, dull skin tone and sagging skin. Regular use can help reduce these problems. Niacin also helps the skin with moisture retention and aids skin’s elasticity and tone. You can use supplements but to increase the benefits of niacin on your skin, eat fish, meats, grains and green vegetables or other foods high in vitamin B3.
Niacin Helps Prevent Diabetes
There us evidence that niacinamide a substance contained in niacin may help delay the onset of insulin dependence for type 1 diabetics. There have been studies performed on animals in which have shown niacinamide can improve the effectivity of drug treatments that are used for diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is another story. This can cause higher levels of cholesterol and fats in the bloodstream. Niacin along with other medications can lower these however niacin may also raise blood sugar that can result in hyperglycemia. This can be very dangerous for someone with diabetes. Therefor you should only take niacin for diabetes as directed by your physician.
Niacinamide has been found to increase joint mobility. Also Niacin can reduce joint and muscle fatigue along with increasing muscle strength. Therefore vitamin B3 has been successfully used to treat osteoarthritis. If high doses are taken the benefits of niacin can be seen in around three to four months. The anti-inflammatory effects of niacin have been proven to be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Taking vitamin B3 has also shown to rebuild worn out cartilage in arthritis sufferers.
Other Benefits of Niacin
In addition to those discussed above there are many other claimed niacin benefits, however they have not all been fully established. These include the following:
Decreasing the risk of cataracts
Production of adrenal hormones
Production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach
Lowered risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Preventing motion sickness
Production of sex hormones
Treating Schizophrenic symptoms
Treatment for peripheral artery disease (PAD)
As you can see there benefits of niacin are numerous. However as with any type of vitamin or supplement you should consult with your doctor or medical professional prior to taking these on your own accord.
At benefitsofniacin.net we look to many sources for further information about niacin and other vitamins. Below are some other websites you may want to visit to further your knowledge of the benefits and other effects of niacin:
Cholesterol Control Without Dieting
Alternative Options to Minimize Niacin-Induced Flushing - Full Text ...
A nudge down a different path - latimes.com
Best Detox Ever: Niacin Exercise Infrared Sauna - YouTube
Niacin - Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University
Bill W. - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia