Why is Niacin-Vitamin B3 important and what you should watch for?

15Mar 0

Why is Niacin-Vitamin B3 important and what you should watch for?

Niacin is an important vitamin for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system and metabolism- especially balancing blood cholesterol levels. In addition niacin helps with brain function, healthy skin formation and maintenance and even preventing or treating diabetes. (1)

However, according to recent studies, there are certain known niacin side effects that can occur when taking niacin-containing medications or supplements in high doses. The common niacin side effects are headaches, dizziness, low blood pressure and more. Continue reading for a complete list of possible side effects, benefits, sources and signs of deficiency.

If you’re eating foods rich in niacin, the chances that you’ll experience side effects are very slim. However it’s possible to experience niacin side effects when taking supplements, especially if you have high doses. The following niacin side effects seem to occur most often in people who are taking high dose supplements and who have pre-known medical conditions:

Nausea or vomiting
Skin reactions, rashes
Headaches
Dizziness
Allergic reactions: Niacin supplements can cause allergies because some contain histamines, chemicals substances that can trigger allergic symptoms to be released
Heart problems: High doses of niacin may increase the risk of irregular heartbeats
Diabetes: Niacin and niacinamide might increase blood sugar. People with diabetes who take niacin or niacinamide should check their blood sugar carefully.
Worsened gallbladder or liver disease symptoms
Aggravated gout symptoms.
Low blood pressure
Stomach or intestinal ulcers
Problems after surgery controlling blood sugar levels