A Comprehensive Overview of Niacin: Benefits and Risks Summarized
Explore the benefits and potential risks of niacin, presented in an easy-to-read table. Learn how niacin can impact cholesterol levels, heart attack risk, and more, along with possible side effects such as flushing, liver damage, and gastrointestinal issues.
what are the benefits and risks of niacin? Summarize in a table.
Here is a summary of the benefits and risks of niacin in a table format:
Benefits Risks Raises HDL (good) cholesterol: Niacin increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, which helps remove LDL (bad) cholesterol from the bloodstream12. Flushing: A common side effect causing warmth, redness, itching, or tingling, especially on the face, neck, and chest34. Lowers triglycerides: Niacin helps reduce the levels of triglycerides in the blood12. Liver damage: High doses of niacin can lead to liver damage and changes in liver enzymes34. Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol: Niacin can decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels12. Gastrointestinal problems: Including nausea, diarrhea, and stomach upset34. Reduces risk of recurrent heart attacks: Niacin is used to decrease the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with a history of hyperlipidemia5. Elevated blood sugar: High doses can cause increased blood sugar levels34. Helps in dyslipidemia: Niacin is used to treat dyslipidemia by reducing total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides6. Gout: May lead to increased uric acid levels causing gout45. Treats niacin deficiency: Prevents and treats pellagra, a condition caused by niacin deficiency7. Vision issues: Possible risk of vision changes or loss34. Footnotes