Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Niacin is a form of vitamin B3. Supplementation with niacin (nicotinic acid) can improve cholesterol levels; however, niacin's inability to reduce cardiovascular disease risk and its association with adverse effects make its use controversial.

Quick Answer

What it is

Niacin is a form of vitamin B3. Supplementation with niacin (nicotinic acid) can improve cholesterol levels; however, niacin's inability to reduce cardiovascular disease risk and its association with adverse effects make its use controversial.

Key findings

  • Grade B: Adiponectin (Metabolic Health)
  • Grade C: Apolipoprotein A (Dyslipidemia)
  • Grade C: Apolipoprotein B (Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD))

Safety

  • Supplementation with niacin (nicotinic acid) can improve cholesterol levels; however, niacin's inability to reduce cardiovascular disease risk and its association with adverse effects make its use controversial.
ℹ️ Quick Facts: Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Quick Facts: Niacin (Vitamin B3)

  • Best Evidence:Grade B
  • Conditions Studied:11
  • Research Outcomes:117
  • Grade B Findings:1
  • Key Effect:Metabolic Health
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B1
C5
D4
11 conditions Β· 117 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
B
Adiponectin
Moderate Increase
moderate↑Improves
D
Adrenaline
No effect
1 study
none
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
11 studies
↓Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Leptin
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Blood Flow
2 studies
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Apolipoprotein A
↑Improves
?
Blood Pressure
1 study
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
1 study
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study
↓Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
↑Improves
?
Glucagon
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
↓Improves
?
Ketone Bodies
↑Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Metabolic Rate
1 study
↑Improves
?
Plasma Nitrate
1 study
↑Improves
?
Resistin
1 study
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Weight
1 study
↓Improves
C
Apolipoprotein A
Small Increase
small↑Improves
?
Apolipoprotein B
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Triglycerides
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Bilirubin
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Blood Flow
1 study
↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
C
Adiponectin
Moderate Increase
moderate↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Apolipoprotein B
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
1 study
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
vLDL-C
1 study
↓Improves
?
Weight
1 study
↓Improves
C
Apolipoprotein A
Small Increase
small↑Improves
?
Apolipoprotein B
↓Improves
?
Heart Attack Risk
1 study
↑Worsens
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Stroke Risk
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
C
Apolipoprotein B
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
1 study
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
1 study
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
vLDL-C
1 study
↓Improves
?
Weight
1 study
↓Improves
C
Adiponectin
Moderate Increase
moderate↑Improves
?
Apolipoprotein A
↑Improves
?
Blood Flow
1 study
↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
1 study
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
↓Improves
?
Leptin
1 study
↑Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Resistin
1 study
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
D
Cardiovascular Disease Mortality
No effect
none
?
Major Adverse Cardiac Events
17 studies
↑Worsens
?
Stroke Risk
11 studies
↑Worsens
D
All-Cause Mortality
No effect
none
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
27 studies
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Apolipoprotein A
↑Improves
?
Apolipoprotein B
↓Improves
?
Gastrointestinal symptoms
12 studies
↓Improves
?
Heart Attack Risk
9 studies
↑Worsens
?
Stroke Risk
7 studies
↑Worsens
?
Itching
6 studies
↑Improves
?
Cardiovascular Disease Mortality
↓Improves
?
Headaches
3 studies
↓Improves
D
Cardiovascular Disease Mortality
No effect
none
?
Heart Attack Risk
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
7 studies
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
Small Detriment
small
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
Small Detriment
1 study
small
?
Hepatic Glucose Production
1 study
↑Worsens
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
vLDL-C
1 study
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
Small Detriment
1 study
small
?
Hepatic Glucose Production
1 study
↑Worsens
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
vLDL-C
1 study
↓Improves

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