I wonder if I could take niacin. My gastro dr says to stay away from vit B because of the hep C & my liver. Maybe I should look into it.
I hope that you will check with your doctor first. He/She will know better than a post on the Internet.
I don’t know about that at all. My arteries should be clearing up pretty good though. I’ve been taking those 5-Hour Energy drinks a couple of times a week. Tons of Vit B-12, B-6 and niacin. YOU had better ask your doctor.
There's a bunch of different B vitamins. Talk to your doc.
TIME-RELEASE niacin has caused liver problems for sure, not sure if immediate release has been linked to anything. I had a doctor that recommended Nicotinic acid (not niacinamide) for cholesterol reduction, and he stated that it had to be the type that caused flushing. I can personally attest to that type's efficacy in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides. An aspirin will help with the flushing.
Go to Life Extension to find out. www.lef.org
Niacin’s role in cholesterol and plaque reduction has been known since the fifties.
You will find the abstracts and protocol suggestions.
In addition, Life Extension Foundation, if you join, will allow you to chat with health care specialists, including doctors, regarding YOUR situation. I can’t recommend them enough.
That is a well founded concern. There is the possibility of liver damage from Niacin. The solution: have a periodic blood test that will show up any liver problems. That is what I do.
Also it is worth pointing out that there are other adverse effects from Niacin. Flushing is the primary one that people worry about. Using a time release (over-the-counter) version and taking a baby aspirin just before the Niacin pretty much takes care of that problem.
A more important issue, and one that seems to be less well understood is the effect of too much Niacin. Typical dosages are in 500 mg tablets (I'm talking over-the-counter here, not prescription versions). I take two a day at the same time and have no problem. At the urging of a former cardiologist I did at one time take 2000 mg (4 tablets). The result: 24/7 nagging stomach and extreme lethargy. This went on for several months until I did a self diagnosis, guessed that it was the Niacin, and quit abruptly. All symptoms were gone in less than 24 hours.
The bottoms line: take it easy and find out your tolerance for the Niacin. Make sure you get your liver tested periodically - probably every 6 months at first and then maybe once a year or so. Ask your doctor and do what he says.