According to the Mayo Clinic website, Niacin is a B vitamin that may help boost high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol, by breaking up low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, in your bloodstream. It can be taken to treat high cholesterol, either alone or with other cholesterol medication, but the decision should be made under a doctor's supervision.
Niacin is old remedy for cholesterol treatment, yet it doesn't get much attention. The B vitamin is used by your body to turn carbohydrates into energy. In addition, niacin nervous system, digestive system, skin, hair and eyes healthy and is often found as part of a multivitamin supplement as well as is available in various food groups.
Niacin works by raising good cholesterol, or HDL levels, in the body, anywhere from 15 to 35 percent. Good cholesterol is important because it gets rid of the bad cholesterol in your blood stream.
As niacin continues to gain popularity as a cholesterol treatment, some myths have begun to grow around it. Here are some ways to separate myths and facts, as adapted from Health Central's CholesterolNetwork.com:
Myth: Niacin has side effects which may be dangerous.
Fact: Niacin is among the safest, most effective, and wonderfully inexpensive ways to combat heart disease and prevent heart attacks
Myth: Niacin is only found in the supplement aisle
Fact: Niacin can be found as a prescription under the labels Niaspan, Niacor and Slo-Niacin
Check with your doctor before taking niacin or any other supplement.\
