Health Risks of Self-Taking Vitamin B-3

vitamin B-3 or niacin, one of the eight essential B vitamins, supports normal nervous system function, fights fatigue and helps maintain healthy skin. The body produces a small amount of vitamin B-3, but most of it is absorbed. derived from food such as meat, eggs, dairy, salmon, broccoli or asparagus.

According to experts, A. niacin deficiency may cause symptoms such as dry skin or dermatitis. Additionally, until now, doctors have prescribed vitamin B-3 to increase levels cholesterol HDL (good) cholesterol lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides because niacin blocks the liver from producing cholesterol. However, excess vitamin B-3 also has its consequences. risk. Cleveland Clinic researchers have identified a new pathway for cardiovascular disease linked to elevated levels of this common B vitamin.

Team led Stanley Hazendiscovered a connection between 4PY, a breakdown product excess niacinAndheart diseases. In large clinical studies, higher levels of 4PY in the blood were strongly associated with the development of heart attacks, strokes and other adverse cardiac events. In preclinical studies, the researchers also demonstrated that 4PY directly causes vascular inflammation, which damages blood vessels and can lead to atherosclerosis over time.

Dr. Hazen says: “What’s interesting about these results is that this pathway appears to make a significant but previously unrecognized contribution to cardiovascular disease,” and adds: “What’s more, we can measure it by which means that diagnostic tests can be performed. “This knowledge lays the foundation for developing new approaches to counteract the effects of this pathway.”

Dr. Hasen notes that increased use over-the-counter supplements prepared from various forms of niacin have also become popular due to their intended purposes anti-aging. He adds that patients should consult their doctor before taking over-the-counter supplements and focus on a diet rich in fruits and vegetables while avoiding excess carbohydrates.

The new findings may also help explain why niacin is no longer the treatment of choice for lowering cholesterol. Niacin was one of the first treatments prescribed to lower LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. However, niacin was ultimately less effective than other cholesterol-lowering drugs and was associated with other negative effects and higher mortality rates in previous studies.