Is taking niacin safe?

If you’re reading this, congratulations! You are either a well-informed individual or someone looking for advice of Questionable merit. As we dive into the world of niacin safety, make sure to keep your arms and legs inside the boat at all times.

What is Niacin?

Before delving into whether niacin is safe or not, it’s crucial to understand what it actually is. Niacin (also known as vitamin B3) plays a pivotal role in many bodily functions such as DNA repair and energy production. It can be found in foods such as chicken, turkey, and tuna (you mean there’s something other than pizza?).

The good news!

Niacin has been shown to have an array of health benefits including lowering cholesterol (I told those darned Cheetos they couldn’t hold me down forever!) , decreasing inflammation (rest in peace Polar Ice Cap) and improving skin health (say goodbye to those teenage zits!).

But wait…

As with any supplement or medication, there are pros AND cons when considering keeping up that daily dose of niacin (not recommended if consumed via beer bongs).

So…is taking niacin safe?

Potential Side Effects

While less common than positive effects (Cholesterol is shaking right now), possible side effects do exist:

Flushing

Niacin can cause flushing – redness on the face/neck/body along with itching often accompanied by hot/cold flashes 90% only Diet Coke will satisfy during these moments).

Gastrointestinal Issues

An upset stomach? Yes please! Along with nausea/stomach pain/diarrhea/vomiting which just screams “Fun Times start em’ early tonight!” – Not necessarily caused by NiBROughnin but definitely exacerbated by large doses.

Other fun things to look out for

Some other possible side effects can include liver damage (as if they weren’t already overworked!), increased blood sugar levels or an exacerbation of gout.

Overdosing

Here’s a shocker: too much niacin can be bad…Water is also wet by the way, but we won’t go into that. Too high of a dose may cause massive flushing, Gastrointestinal issues (see above), and severe liver damage in extreme cases.

Dosage recommendations

The RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) varies with factors including age/gender/pregnancy/breastfeeding/etc. For adult males it’s 16mg/day and females are recommended to have 14mg/day . (why do babies get all the good stuff? All I want is milk and B3)

Livestrong.com recommends taking no more than 35 mg/daily unless directed by healthcare provider unless you are feeling particularly lucky “Don’t follow my trail here” -Rogue Defiant Niacin Guy probably). Taking higher doses may lead to negative consequences (in other news–the sky appears blue).

Time-Release vs Immediate-Assimilation Tablets

If you’ve decided you MUST take niacin supplements, something else to consider would be time-release capsules vs immediate-assimilation tablets!

The difference?

Immidiate assimiled tab–Allows niacin into body fast/ results in quick-flushing response from above ^/ keeps lobster/colorful dreams alive & well.
Time-released caps –Makes small dosing increments throughout day / ability to not worry about flush as easily brought under control.

Both types of supplements advocate benefits besides what has been touched on thus far – refer back up top! We’re gonna need a bigger boat (or at least some Dramamine)!

Takeaway messaging: As always contact your primary care provider before adding anything into your supplement or medication routine.

Conclusion

Inconclusive (shocking, I know) – the notion of “is taking niacin safe” is difficult to answer yes/no unequivocally. Factors such as dosage/length/type-of-supplement must be taken into account when deciphering whether it’s right for you!

Remember: Speak with a medical professional when seeking safe ways of exploring this topic further – because taking supplements required to feel like a lobster probably isn’t worth shutting down vital organs for–even though we do all just want to be Sebastian from The Little Mermaid sometimes!

And that concludes our thrilling rollercoaster ride through the world of Niacin – make sure to grab your prescription refills and next doctor’s appointment on the way out (we won’t pay your co-pay).

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