Niacin and Cholesterol
The niacin and cholesterol connection is one you might not be aware of. But in reality, one of the most potent cholesterol-lowering drugs isn’t a drug at all; it’s a vitamin. And it’s a secret that your doctor might not realize, and the drug companies sure aren’t telling you.
The vitamin? It’s B3, also known as niacin. And it can help bring down your numbers naturally and safely.
What About Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?
The drugs prescribed most for lowering cholesterol is a group called the statins. In this group you’ll find medications such as Zocor, Lipitor, Crestor, Mevacor and others with similar names. They work by helping the body to re-absorb some of the cholesterol — kind of like HDL cholesterol does. but that’s where the story ends.
Statins are hard on your body; ask anyone who has taken them. Common side effects are muscle aches, digestive problems and nausea. The life-threatening ones are liver damage and muscle breakdown, which releases a protein that can cause kidney damage. And the higher the dosage, the higher the risk.
One other detail; statins as a group raise the homocystine levels in the body. And in recent years, homocystine has been targeted as the real culprit behind cardiovascular disease.
Niacin and Cholesterol
Niacin can lower cholesterol naturally, as well as homocystine levels. However, the drug companies can’t patent a vitamin so niacin has gotten lost in the shuffle.
But what’s funny is that niacin is starting to be suggested by physicians as a companion to statin drugs; niacin helps to lower the raised homocystine levels (raised by taking the statins in the first place) and makes the statins work better.
So…why not just prescribe niacin in the first place? It’s effective, much cheaper and the worst side effects are hot flashes (which can be avoided by taking flush-free niacin or dividing your dose up during the day).
Here’s a quote from the Mayo Clinic website:
What impact does niacin have on cholesterol?
Niacin can raise HDL — the “good” cholesterol — by 15 percent to 35 percent. This makes niacin the most effective drug available for raising HDL cholesterol. While niacin’s effect on HDL is of most interest, it’s worth noting that niacin also decreases your LDL and triglyceride levels. High levels of LDL and triglycerides are significant risk factors for heart disease.
It’s clear that this humble vitamin can have a power effect on cholesterol and your body!
Why Don’t Physicians Suggest Niacin?
Now I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m basing it not only on my experiences, but also experiences from friends, relatives and forum members. In general, physicians in this country tend to ignore natural remedies like vitamins and minerals. And it’s not necessarily their fault; in the United States, medicine is all about treating an illness, not preventing it in the first place.
Now there very much are exceptions to that rule; I personally know of one medical doctor that recommends natural vitamin supplement therapy when traditional medicine falls short. And with great results!
But that’s not usually the case.
How Much Niacin?
OK, here’s the tricky part. If you’re already taking statins and your doctor hasn’t prescribed a niacin supplement, you should ask about it. If nothing else, it will very likely enable you to take a lower dose of the statin. If your doctor won’t discuss the possibility, find a nutritionist (not a dietician, but a nutritionist – they are different).
In general, you need to take enough niacin to make you “flush”. Then either take the flush-less variety of niacin or divide the dose and take it two or three times a day to prevent the flush from happening. (For some people the flush isn’t a big deal; for others it’s uncomfortable.)
The Niacin Cholesterol Connection
It’s clear that there is a connection between niacin and cholesterol, and that it can help your body lower cholesterol naturally. Niacin is inexpensive, just a few dollars for a month’s supply, and it can repay you with better health.