Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Niacin to Lower Cholesterol

Niacin, fully known as Nicotinic acid, is a drug that is used to treat patients who have high cholesterol levels; it helps lower and maintain normal range of cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of heart disease and other ailments. Niacin also known as vitamin B3 comes in different forms and various types are available in the market. This different forms of niacin are; nicotinamide, nicotinic acid and inosito hexaniacinate.

Nicotinic acid has different forms that vary in release, the immediate release known as the IR type liberates the acid straight into the blood; this fast discharge causes itching and flushing of the skin. There is another type of release called the extended release or ER type whose release is much slower than the IR type; however a doctor’s prescription is needed. Lastly, there is the sustainedrelease which is discharged into the blood over a period of time, side effects are not felt immediately but one major setback is that it heightens the risk of liver failure. This type can be found in the market and therefore a doctor’s prescription is not needed.

Nicotinic acid main function is to lower cholesterol level in the body as well as triglyceride levels and increases the high density lipoprotein levels (HDL) at the same time. However, it has certain severe side effects, namely, palpitations, skin irritation and flushing, alteration of blood sugar levels and worst of all it can cause liver disease. In as much as it works effectively and will give desired results, its intake can cause ailments that are possibly irreversible that could lead to death.

There are other cholesterol control supplements other than the prescription drugs which do not have side effects and work just as effectively. Eating cholesterol lowering foods or herbs is another alternative to beating high  cholesterol. There are type of foods that contain a certain amount of niacin that are a good substitute to the drug, such as, broccoli, carrots, peanuts, legumes, tomatoes, chicken, liver, beef and many more. It is advisable to treat the problem naturally for this reduces the risk of heart disease, liver failure and other ailments.

Source from : Lowering Your Cholesterol Naturally: Learn How To Get Started Lowering Your Cholesterol Naturally Today by Amy Austen