Table of Contents
Vitamin B3 (Niacin, nicotinic acid, 3-pyridine-carboxylic acid) is one of eight B-Vitamins. Niacin is a precursor to the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP).
NAD is needed to catabolize fats, carbohydrates, proteins and alcohol. And NAD is involved in cell signaling and DNA repair.
NAD also converts to NADH which is the primary carrier of electrons in the transfer of food from your diet into energy. This energy is created as adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
ATP is produced in mitochondria in each of your cells. Not enough NADH leads to ATP depletion, which can eventually lead to cell death.[i]
The Russian-designed nootropic Picamilon is a combination of niacin and GABA. And is used to improve memory, concentration, focus, relieve anxiety and lower blood pressure.
Studies have shown that supplementing with niacin improves cognitive function, enhances cellular energy, boosts cerebral circulation, increases endurance, switches ‘off’ aging genes, and extends life span.
Niacin helps:
- Protect brain cells. Niacin as a precursor to NAD and NADH repairs cell and DNA damage. And stimulates your immune system. Niacin boosts the production of Nitric Oxide (NO) which relaxes blood vessels in your brain increasing cerebral blood flow. And niacin acts as an antioxidant helping to eliminate free radicals that can damage brain cells.[ii]
- Brain energy. As a precursor to NADH, niacin provides electrons for ATP synthesis within our mitochondria for cellular energy. Low levels of niacin result in brain fog, slow mental processing, and cognitive decline.
- Neurotransmitters. Niacin affects cognitive function by stimulating the production of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin.[iii] These neurotransmitters are involved in memory, learning, cognition, recall and mood.
Overview
Vitamin B3 (Niacin, nicotinic acid, 3-pyridine-carboxylic acid) is precursor to the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP).
Niacin is found in, and critical for the health of every cell in your body. NADH is the reduced form of NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide), making it the “active” form which can donate electrons.
NADH is the primary carrier of electrons from glucose and lactate for ATP synthesis. ATP is the fuel source produced within mitochondria. The power supply in each of your brain cells. So you need niacin to produce NADH to transfer the energy from the food you eat into a type of energy your body can use.
Niacin naturally occurs in foods like eggs, fish, meat, milk, peanuts, mushrooms, green vegetables, and yeast.
Your body also naturally synthesizes niacin from the amino acid tryptophan you get from food. This synthesis requires Vitamin B6, riboflavin and an enzyme containing iron.
But only about 2% of dietary tryptophan is converted to niacin. Not nearly enough that your body requires which is why supplementation is needed.
Niacin supplementation has been used to treat addiction, ADHD, arthritis, Alzheimer’s Disease, depression, memory loss and schizophrenia. And for detoxing nearly every foreign substance that can find its way into your fat cells.
As a nootropic, niacin helps boost cognition, memory and neuroplasticity.
How does Niacin work in the brain?
Niacin boosts brain health in several ways. But two in particular stand out.
- Niacin increases cellular energy. Niacin is the precursor to NAD. NAD acts as an electron carrier, meaning it can accept and donate electrons to various enzymes involved in energy metabolism.
NAD is transformed into NADH. NADH then donates its electron to the electron transport chain where a number of ATP molecules are formed.
Using niacin as a supplement increases the available NAD molecules that can take part in energy metabolism. And increasing the amount of energy in each cell.[iv]
By providing the means for ATP synthesis, niacin is involved in cognition, focus, concentration, memory, and processing speed. And niacin plays an important role in mediating brain aging and tissue damage. Even decreasing the damage done by strokes.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston studied the neuroprotective effects of CoQ10 and niacin in mouse models of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Impaired energy metabolism has been associated with some symptoms of PD.
Researchers administered MPTP which is poison to neurons. It disrupts the energy metabolism of neurons that release dopamine. The affected dopamine cells are also unable to release as much glutamate which results in decreased dopamine in people with PD.
The combination of CoQ10 and niacin protected against both mild and moderate dopamine depletion. The researchers concluded that CoQ10 and niacin improve mitochondrial energy production.[v]
- Niacin increases Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). BDNF has been termed “Miracle-Gro for the brain”. Higher levels of BDNF have been associated with increased intelligence, mood, productivity and memory.
Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit tested the hypothesis that niacin could increase synaptic plasticity and axon growth in stroke patients.
Male Wistar rats were purposely given a stroke and then treated with extended release niacin (Niaspan) for 14 days. Niacin increased synaptic plasticity and axon growth as a result of restored BDNF.[vi]
Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism showed that niacin stimulated growth hormone.[vii]
How things go bad
Niacin deficiency is considered rare by government health agencies, particularly in the West. But even mild niacin deficiency can have a negative impact on your health and cognition.
Mild niacin deficiency can be caused by digestive problems that decreases the amount of Vitamin B3 (niacin) or tryptophan that your body absorbs.
If you are gluten intolerant you’re at a higher risk of being niacin deficient. If you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s Disease you have an increased chance of niacin deficiency.
Excessive alcohol consumption, birth control pills, anorexia, and those on a vegan diet can be deficient in niacin.
↓ Energy levels decline
↑ Fatigue increases
↓ Anxiety, hyperactivity, depression, headaches and hallucinations
↓ Metabolism declines
↑ Insomnia increases
↑ Irritability increases
Some experts believe a lack of niacin and other B-Vitamins is at least partially responsible for the large increase in mental health disorders and violent crimes in recent decades.[viii]
All of these niacin deficiency-related changes are contributing factors to the neurodegenerative diseases of aging, age-related cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia.
But even if things haven’t degenerated to such a debilitating level, niacin can help.
Niacin Benefits
Research has shown that people with low niacin levels are far more vulnerable to addiction, depression, heart disease, schizophrenia, and other chronic conditions. Low niacin levels can happen at any age. Even at birth.
Niacin can improve cholesterol levels. Supplementing with niacin has been shown to help those who are at increased risk for heart attacks, stroke and other forms of heart disease.
Niacin can help reduce hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and assist in avoiding heart disease. And niacin helps reduce inflammation.
Niacin plays a role in diabetes treatment because it helps balance blood sugar levels.
Niacin helps to reduce skin inflammation, flare ups, irritation, redness and for treating severe cases of acne.
Niacin can help protect against Alzheimer’s and dementia.[ix] Niacin supplementation is also associated with decreased risk for age-related cognitive decline, memory loss, migraines, depression, motion sickness, insomnia and even alcohol dependence.
Niacin is also used for treating and to help prevent schizophrenia.
Studies show that niacin supplementation lowers the risk or severity of ADHD.
Niacin is an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) because it acts as a vasodilator that helps improve blood flow to the penis.
How does Niacin feel?
Niacin supplementation can help relieve depression and anxiety. Circulation should improve and you’ll feel like you have more energy.
People taking statins to control cholesterol report severe side effects. But when adding niacin to their supplement stack, most experience a reduction in blood pressure. And some have stopped taking statins as a result.
Those dealing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) report combining niacin with St. John’s wort reduced OCD symptoms. And was better than using the SSRI Prozac®, or the benzodiazepine Ativan® (lorazepam).
Taken before bedtime some neurohackers report a reduction in insomnia.
Lower back pain and hip pain may be reduced with niacin supplementation.
Niacin can help reduce severe acne and other skin inflammation problems.
Niacin Clinical Research
Niacin helps Reduce Bad Cholesterol
Therapeutic doses of niacin have been shown to reduce serum cholesterol. Niacin significantly increases HDL-cholesterol (good cholesterol), decreases LPL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. Changes in blood lipid profile considered to be protective of your heart.
Low levels of HDL-cholesterol are one of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease. And an increase in HDL levels is associated with a reduction of that risk.
The Coronary Drug Project was conducted between 1966 and 1975 to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of niacin in 8,241 men aged 30 to 64 years old. All men had experienced some type of heart problem.
Compared to placebo, patients who took 3 grams of niacin daily experienced an average 10% reduction in total blood cholesterol, a 26% decrease in triglycerides, a 27% decrease in recurrent heart attacks, and a 26% decrease in stroke.[x]
Niacin for Detox
If you are dealing with chronic health issues, chances are good you could benefit from a detoxification program. Even if you’re feeling perfectly ‘healthy’ you could likely use a good detox.
Simply living in our modern society exposes us to thousands of chemicals that have the potential to get into our bodies from the food we eat, air we breathe, water we drink and things we touch.
One study done in Portland, Oregon investigated the effects of a 7-day detox program on well-being in 25 disease-free, healthy participants. The 7-day detox produced a statistically significant (47%) reduction in the Metabolic Screening Questionnaire scores. And a 23% increase in liver detox capacity.[xi] Even healthy people feel better after detox.
In 1977, L. Ron Hubbard developed his “Sweat Program” to facilitate detox. The program includes niacin, sauna and a supplement regimen to restore critical vitamins and minerals to the newly detoxed body.
This niacin detox program has been used to treat Gulf War Syndrome, the fire fighters and first responders to the 9/11 attacks in New York[xii], and is used by hundreds of naturopaths.
Niacin affects adipocytes which causes an increase in free fatty acid (FFA) release from adipose tissue (body fat). Release of free fatty acids releases fat-stored toxins for excretion from the body.
Niacin also causes prostaglandin D2 release which dilates small blood vessels in the skin. The same reaction responsible for the “niacin flush”. This dilation increases the movement of xenobiotics (foreign chemicals) for excretion through sweating (which is where the sauna comes into the detox program).
Niacin is also a precursor to NADH which regenerates the master antioxidant glutathione. Niacin reduces inflammation by decreasing reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokines.
Niacin helps treat Depression
Niacin is especially helpful if you are taking antidepressants. Drugs to treat depression have an anti-inflammatory effect, including inhibition of the rate-limiting enzyme of the kynurenine pathway. This metabolic pathway is involved in the production of NAD and NADH.
The inhibition of this pathway increases serotonin as more tryptophan becomes available for serotonin synthesis. More serotonin helps decrease depression.
But this also leaves less tryptophan available for niacin synthesis. Which causes depression and basically cancels out the benefits of using antidepressants.[xiii]
So if you’re on SSRI’s you may want to add niacin to your stack.
Niacin for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction
Dyslipidemia is the name of the condition involving high LDL-cholesterol (bad), high triglycerides (bad), and low HDL-cholesterol (bad). Dyslipidemia is closely related to erectile dysfunction (ED).
Researchers in Hong Kong ran a placebo-controlled trial with 160 male patients with ED and dyslipidemia. Half the men with ED received 1500 mg of niacin, and the other half received a placebo daily for 12 weeks.
The main outcome of the study was a significant improvement in erectile function. And the researchers concluded that “niacin alone can improve erectile function in men suffering from moderate to severe ED”.[xiv]
Niacin Recommended Dosage
Niacin is naturally produced in your body from tryptophan. And you get niacin from eating certain foods including beef, chicken, tuna, sunflower seeds, salmon, green peas, turkey, and mushrooms. So niacin is considered non-toxic and safe.
Note that higher doses of niacin are usually divided into evenly split doses 2 – 4 times per day. So 2 gram of niacin daily would be 500 mg 4-times per day.
- Prevention of heart disease: niacin 4 grams per day
- Lowering bad cholesterol and boosting good cholesterol: niacin 4 grams per day
- To slow the progression of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes: Niacinamide 25 mg/kg of body weight daily
- Preventing or treating Vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency: 50 – 100 mg per day
- To treat pellagra (severe niacin deficiency): 300 – 500 mg daily
- For treating osteoarthritis: Niacinamide 3 grams per day
- For reduced risk of cataracts: 44 mg of niacin per day
- Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease: 100 mg per day. Note that there is no reliable evidence that niacin can prevent Alzheimer’s although there is plenty of evidence that Alzheimer’s patients consistently show low niacin levels.
- Treating erectile dysfunction (ED): 500 mg 3-times per day
- Treating schizophrenia: 3 grams of niacin and 3 grams of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) daily[xv]
Niacin Side Effects
Standard niacin (nicotinic acid) is naturally produced in your body. And considered non-toxic.
Niacin can lower blood pressure so if you are on blood pressure lowering medication be cautious about supplementing with niacin.
Niacin may decrease the effectiveness of diabetes medication because long-term use of niacin can increase blood sugar. So you may need to increase your diabetes meds.
Statins are notorious for causing muscle wasting. And when combined with niacin it may increase this muscle wasting problem. You may want to cut back on your statins as you increase your niacin dose. Many stop taking statins altogether when using niacin.
Niacin (nicotinic acid) and sustained-release niacin causes “flushing” in many people. Here I address how to reduce or eliminate the side effect of niacin flushing.
Preventing Niacin Flushing
Regular immediate-release niacin (nicotinic acid) causes “flushing” in many people. And they avoid supplementing with niacin as a result.
Standard niacin flushing results from activation of the niacin receptor G protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A) in skin Langerhans cells. This leads to the production of prostaglandins, including prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which act on receptors in the capillaries (small blood vessels in your skin).[xvi]
This flushing sensation comes from blood vessel dilation and manifests itself as redness, warmth of the skin and tingling or itching. It happens rapidly and lasts for about 1 hour.
This flushing sensation is NOT an allergic reaction. And only feels uncomfortable. Here are some strategies to avoid niacin flushing.
First, “slow-release” niacin may prevent flushing. But is NOT the answer because it will not provide the LDL-cholesterol (bad) lowering benefits. And can be toxic to your liver when used long-term.[xvii]
Inositol hexanicotinate is commonly referred to as no-flush niacin or flush-free niacin and is preferred by many neurohackers.
Even though I’ve seen a couple of clinical studies claiming this version of niacin has no effect on lipid profiles when it comes to cholesterol[xviii], user reviews consistently report the opposite.
They do not experience flushing with Inositol hexanicotinate even at high doses, and their cholesterol and triglyceride levels all benefited and came within a healthy range.
A newer version of “extended-release” niacin called Niaspan® does not produce the flushing effect. And has been shown to have the same effects on good cholesterol and triglycerides as instant-release niacin.[xix] Niaspan® is prescription-only and is now available as a prescription generic at lower cost.
One effective way to reduce flushing with instant-release niacin and extended-release niacin is to take a 325 mg aspirin tablet 30 minutes prior to taking your niacin.[xx]
You can also try splitting your dose of niacin into smaller doses taken throughout the day. Flushing will be reduced if not completely eliminated. And long-term niacin users note that flushing goes away after about a week of long-term niacin use.
Type of Niacin to Buy
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) is not stored in your body and must be ingested daily from food or as a supplement. Niacin as a supplement comes in several forms:
- Niacin (nicotinic acid, (pyridine-3-carboxylic acid) or ‘free-form’ nicotinic acid even at large doses of 3 or 4 grams are nearly completely absorbed by adults. This version causes ‘flushing’ above 50 mg which can be avoided. Refer to the “Side Effects” section of this article on niacin. Doses above 1500 mg per day can be toxic to your liver.
- Niacinamide (nicotinic acid amide) has a similar profile to that of free-form niacin. But unlike free form niacin does not produce a flushing effect. Doses above 3 grams per day can be toxic to your liver.
- Slow-release niacin is nicotinic acid using an ion exchange or wax matrix developed to slowly release niacin to avoid the flushing effect. Liver toxicity has been shown in doses above 500 mg of extended-release niacin.
- Inositol hexanicotinate (IH) is an “extended-release niacin” sold as “Flush Free Niacin” and has 6 molecules of niacin covalently bonded to one molecule of inositol. The IH version of niacin does not produce a flushing effect. Studies show that an average of 70% of the dose you take gets absorbed by your body.
Studies show that the benefits to lowering bad cholesterol with the IH form of niacin are not nearly as effective as free-from niacin.[xxi] But user reviews are the opposite of these clinical findings. No toxicity is associated with high doses of IH.
Slo-Niacin®, is sold over the counter. Niaspan® is an extended-release niacin formula sold as a prescription drug.
Note: Both slow-release niacin and extended-release niacin (inositol hexanicotinate) are marketed and labeled as “Flush-Free Niacin”. But they are not the same and you should avoid slow-release niacin.
Slow-release niacin causes liver toxicity at relatively low doses and does not provide the lipid balancing effects like free-form niacin and extended-release niacin.
Most multivitamins also include some form of Vitamin B3 (niacin) in their formula. But many of these multis don’t contain enough for optimum health. And many have an inferior isolated or synthetic version of the nutrient.
The Performance Lab® NutriGenesis Multi offers a nature-identical form of Vitamin B3 (niacin) and is now my favorite daily multivitamin/mineral supplement.
I prefer the Performance Lab® multi because it’s more potent, it’s biologically active and I’ve found to be a far more effective multi compared to every other multivitamin supplement I’ve ever used.
Performance Lab® uses their own patented NutriGenesis® vitamins and minerals which are grown on probiotic, plant and yeast cultures in a state-of-the-art lab.
Nootropics Expert Recommendation
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1000 mg 3-times per day
I recommend using “extended-release” Niacin (Inositol hexanicotinate) as a nootropic supplement.
Your body does make some Niacin on its own. And you can get it by eating meat, poultry and fish. But studies have shown we don’t get an adequate supply of Niacin from food sources.
Niacin is particularly helpful for vegetarians because very little Niacin is available from vegetables.
Niacin is especially helpful for those suffering Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ADHD.
I suggest starting with a dose of 500 mg daily. And Niacin is a great compliment to a stack including any nootropic. Do your best to use either free-form niacin if you can tolerate the flush. Or even better, use an extended-release version of niacin that has no flush and no associated toxicity.
You need to provide your brain with the nutrients including niacin needed to create ATP within brain cell mitochondria. Or neurons start to break down from the inside. Signs that you’re lacking adequate Niacin is brain fog, slow thinking, fatigue and low endurance.
Some clinics in the USA and other countries are using Niacin therapy as a treatment for addiction, anxiety, depression, chronic stress and even schizophrenia.
I recommend starting with a low dose of Niacin until you build a tolerance to avoid the niacin “flush”. Increase your dose every few days until you get to the dose you find gives you the most cognitive benefit.
At the very minimum every neurohacker should be using a multivitamin every day that includes Vitamin B3 (niacin). The best multi I’ve found and use every day is the Performance Lab® NutriGenesis Multi for men or women.
Join The Discussion - 208 comments
German
May 27, 2019
Slo niacin (over couter) controlled release is safe?
David Tomen
May 28, 2019
German, Liver toxicity has been shown in doses above 500 mg.
Dolores Guertin
April 30, 2019
Hi David,
Do you know, or have you read anything about niacin and autoimmune challenges. I have multiple, but for now, I’d like to know if niacin can help with Raynauld’s, it strikes me hard in my hands and feet and connective tissue – tendons and ligaments. I would like to start taking it apart from what I’m getting from food, incl nutritional yeast, and multi- methylated B-complex (353 mg IH). I like all the other good stuff that it does without having to be concerned with long-term insulin sensitivity issues. Apparently my cholesterol is on the high side, have not had small particle test done, but not too concerned. I do have a hypothyroid, yet I work hard at trying to keep my weight up and it is now more stable than it has been , crohns, colitis, celiac kept in check with CBD. Due to long ago medication-injury, my liver is my major organ concern, take a lot of things to support it. I think niacin could help with all of this, just worried about the insulin long term. Is there something like chromium or some herb that be taken long term along side the niacin to eliminate/mitigate the possiblity of insulin resistance down the road, again, my first thought is liver again, I also dont have an easy time storing glycogen in my liver.
I just found you, so I’ll check in every now and then, thank you for sharing. Your delivery is clean and to the point. Thanks again, Dolores
David Tomen
May 1, 2019
Dolores, Niacin plays a role in diabetes treatment because it helps balance blood sugar levels. So why would you think that supplementing with niacin would cause insulin resistance?
Brian
April 23, 2019
Is it safe and effective to take mega-dose Niacin AND Niacinamide at the same time to treat two different conditions? I am planning to take niacinamide for arthritis and niacin for other reasons to do with blood flow, artery dilation, HDL, etc. I plan to take a total of 3g niacin per day and up to 3g niacinamide per day (8x250mg each) for 3 months + depending on results. Thank you.
David Tomen
April 23, 2019
Brain, Niacin (nicotinic acid, (pyridine-3-carboxylic acid) or ‘free-form’ nicotinic acid is toxic to your liver above 1,500 mg per day.
Niacinamide (nicotinic acid amide) has a similar profile to that of free-form niacin. And it toxic to your liver above 3,000 mg per day.
So keep those dosage levels in mind along with toxicity levels to stay safe.
Al
November 18, 2019
Hi David
You are saying Niacin nicotinic acid is toxic to your liver above 1,500 mg per day but you are also recommending 3000 mg per day. Please can you explain?
David Tomen
November 20, 2019
Al, the only form of niacin that is NOT toxic to your liver in doses higher than 1,500 mg is Inositol hexanicotinate (IH). The other forms including regular niacin, slow-release and flush-free are toxic to your liver above a certain dosage. Some above 1,500 mg per day, others above 3,000 mg per day, one of them is toxic above 500 mg per day.
Toxicity is all clearly explained (I hope!) in this section: https://nootropicsexpert.com/vitamin-b3-niacin/#available-forms
Al
November 25, 2019
Thanks David. I have one more question that I can’t find anywhere. I been taking “21st Century Prolonged Release” Niacin, is it same as slow-release once that you are advising not to take? I look forward to your reply. Thanks a lot. Cheers
Al
David Tomen
November 26, 2019
Al, as long as the dosage is 500 mg a day which I think this niacin supplement contains you should be below the toxic limit.
RM
April 14, 2019
Hi David, I recently purchased and started using Country Life’s Co-enzyme B Complex. It seems to be a quality product but it makes me drowsy every time I take it. I only take half the dose. I inquired on Reddit why it may be making me feel that way. They said it’s either the high amount of bio-available B6, the B3 if I’m pre-diabetic, or I may have an electrolyte imbalance. I want to take it of it’s health benefits but was under the impression it’s supposed to give me energy not make me drowsy. What is your take?
David Tomen
April 15, 2019
RM, it depends on the dosage levels of each ingredient on that B-Complex stack. I suggest reading the individual review for each B-Vitamin here the end of the list here: https://nootropicsexpert.com/nootropics-list/. And take a look at dosage recommendations in those reviews and side effects for each. See if you can narrow down where the problem is.
Akash
May 7, 2020
Sir my brother feel nausea while taking nicotinic acid. He take his antipsychotic medication 5 mins before meal and then 5 minuted after meal he take 500 mg nicotinic acid but causes nausea .Please help
Thanks .
Akash
May 7, 2020
And if he only takes antipsychotics doesn’t cause nausea. Can he take niacin and vitamin c together after meal. And how to reduce nausea even after taking it after food ?
David Tomen
May 7, 2020
Akash, see my other response to your question. And yes, niacin and Vitamin C can certainly be used concurrently.
David Tomen
May 7, 2020
Akash, the dose is too high. Try 50 mg and see how he feels.
Akash gaikwad
May 7, 2020
Sir please tell me how can I increase the dose of niacin to 3000/day for my brother step by step. Can you tell me the timing for antipsychotic and niacin… before, during or after meal .
David Tomen
May 10, 2020
Akash, the only safe way to do high dose niacin like 3,000 mg per day is to use either Niacinamide (nicotinic acid amide) or Inositol hexanicotinate (IH). Any other form will cause liver damage and eventually failure.
And niacin is water soluble so can be taken with or without a meal.
James W. Jesso
February 7, 2019
Great article. I love niacin.
However,
Examine.com mentions that prolonged Niacin use causes insulin resistance and that its lipid benefits are counteracted by this. Why is such an important caveat not included here?
” Unfortunately, niacin supplementation does not result in reduced cardiovascular disease risk, since it also increases insulin resistance, which negates the benefits niacin provides for blood lipid levels.”
“Current evidence suggests prolonged niacin supplementation increases insulin resistance because it hinders the ability of insulin to suppress glucose synthesis in the liver. This causes an increase in blood glucose levels, which leads to lowered insulin sensitivity over time, since the relevant receptor is eventually desensitized to the elevated glucose levels in the blood.”
David Tomen
February 8, 2019
James, I didn’t mentioned insulin sensitivity because it didn’t come up as a problem in my research. Please note that later on in their review, Examine also says,
“Although chronic high-dose, niacin supplementation decreases insulin sensitivity, compensatory increases in insulin levels leaves blood glucose levels essentially unchanged in healthy individuals.”
But thanks for bringing this up. If I find that this is truly a concern I will update my “side effects” in this review.
If you continue to be concerned it’s easy enough to get your “fasting glucose levels” checked.
Rich
December 30, 2018
Hi
I am taking 4 gramnes a day, but I mix in water in the morning, and drink throughout the day.
I would like to know if the Niacin is still active.
If I have wasted my efforts.
Also if I can add various vitamins to 1 drink?
Love your videos on youtube etc..but I am ill with various things and cognition and memory is terrible.
David Tomen
December 31, 2018
Rich, 4 grams per day of Niacin is often prescribed for things like heart disease and lowering LDL cholesterol. Dosing it throughout your day as you do is the ideal way to keep adequate niacin available in your system.
You can add other vitamins to the drink. Dosage recommendations are mentioned in individual reviews and some blog posts here on Nootropics Expert > https://nootropicsexpert.com/13-vitamins-essential-for-the-optimized-brain/
James Watson
November 10, 2018
I have been using Niacin for years. One should take care with regular Niacin dosage as too much (as little as 75 mg on an empty stomach) can cause nausea. I’ve experienced this myself.
NR and MWN are not the same as NA.
Try taking Niacin sublingually, it works well for me at a lower dose.
Aelxa
September 11, 2018
Hi David,
My problem with pain happened after I was put on 2,000mg of folic acid prenatally and kept on it after I gave birth to my son until 2012.
Unfortunately I did not learn until 2012 that I have two copies of the C667T MTHFR gene variant that makes it impossible to convert folic acid into folate that my body can use.
I started to have energy problems and slowly increasing pain in 1992 after giving birth. They kept me on 1,500 mg of folic acid daily until 2012 because of high homocysteine levels , which are common with C667T. I started taking Methylfolate in 2012 once I knew about the gene problem, and balance it with methylB12 and B6.
My brain was working very well before the abrupt withdrawal. It was afterwards that the inability to make decisions happened, not to say that pain meds cannot cause brain damage. I have never been a fan of drugs, my first marriage broke up because he liked them and I would rather exercise to get feel-good endorphins.
The experience of extreme pain sustained at the 9-10 level for 18 months was the trigger. I once accidentally stabbed my wrist bone with a scissor while gardening so I know what real pain is. That pain was an 11, I could not even breathe and almost passed out. Giving birth to my son was only up to a 5 at the worst moment and I gave birth with no drugs.
I believe the 20 years of taking folic acid is what damaged my body’s ability to correctly make the dopamine and serotonin it requires to dampen pain signals. And caused the thyroid problems.
Getting my T4 and T3 thyroid levels to mid-range enabled me to go from a whole pain pill four times a day to only 1/2 a pain pill four times a day, in only three days after they increased my Cytomel (T3) medication. The interesting thing is I read in an endocrinology book that they know pain levels drop if the patient T4 and T3 are brought up to mid-range. Yet my endocrinologist, who knew I had chronic pain, only gave me enough thyroid to get my T4 and T3 levels barely over the line into the low end of the range.
I have been taking ashwaghanda, Rhodiola, L-Tryptophan, 5-HTP, and melatonin for the last year, which has helped a bit. Added lithium orotate 1 mg a few months ago.
And just added three weeks ago 100 mg Lipothiamine (TTFD) twice a day since I have no energy and I believe the MTHFR gene or some enzyme problem is causing troubles in converting thiamine. It has helped increase my energy and decrease my migraines. I have had migraines since puberty.
I have been using Turmeric for years, it controls my osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. Works better than Enbrel or Humira for me. Also take CoQ10, Omega-3, and Life extension multivitamin.
I really think Picamilon would help, but of course the corporations got the FDA to make it impossible to get in the USA now. Typical. I wish I could afford to go overseas to get it.
So do I hope that I have a leaky blood/brain barrier and take GABA? I suspect I do since if I take anything that contains titanium, I start to lose the ability to find words and feel like my brain is scrambled. I can start to speak and wind up going “duh,duh,duh” because the words do not come, literally. I know titanium nanoparticles can cross the barrier and cause literal holes in the brain (per one study on PubMed.).
I will be taking nicotinic acid, what would be the best way to increase GABA in the brain?
David Tomen
September 12, 2018
Aelxa, it sounds like you’re on the right track and have learned a lot over the years. There is considerable debate on whether GABA can or cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. But some of the latest research shows that GABA is produced in your gut. And makes its way to the brain similar to serotonin. Which would explain why some have success with using ordinary GABA as a supplement.
I suggest trying Picamilon if you can get it. Or if you want stay with plain GABA, get PharmaGABA which is a more natural form of this supplement. And is easy to find.