High cholesterol: ‘Most effective’ supplement for condition could slash bad levels by 25%

High cholesterol: Nutritionist reveals top prevention tips

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High cholesterol refers to the presence of harmful fatty molecules in the blood, which stick to the arterial walls and cause them to narrow over time. Statins have become the first resort for treating the condition, but some dietary sources and supplements have also proven useful. According to one health body, vitamin B3 supplements may be hugely beneficial to treat high cholesterol. According to physicians, the pill could lower levels of harmful lipids by up to 25 percent.

Niacin or vitamin B3 is a water-soluble B vitamin found naturally in some foods and sold as a supplement.

The two most common forms of supplementation with niacin are nicotinic acid and nicotinamide.

The nutrient works in the body as a coenzyme, helping convert nutrients into energy, create cholesterol and fat, create and repair DNA, and exert antioxidant effects.

According to the health body US Pharmacist, Niacin, or vitamin B3, is one of the most effective agents to raise HDL levels.

READ MORE: High cholesterol: The snack that could slash bad levels by 30% in days – ‘rapid results’

The health body explains: “This effect is dose-related, requiring one to four grams per day.

“There are a variety of niacin products available: immediate-release, long-acting and extended-release.”

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health explains that the supplement can be used as a prescription medicine to treat high cholesterol.

“This typically comes in an extended-release form of nicotinic acid that allows slow, more gradual absorption so that it does not cause flushing,” adds the health body.

Because very high doses of nicotinic acid are needed, at up to 2,000 mg daily, the supplement should only be used when monitored by a health practitioner.

A deficiency in niacin is rare because the nutrient can be found in many foods, both animal and plant-based.

Some good sources include red meat, poultry, fish, brown rice, nuts, seeds, legumes, and bananas.

People who do become severely deficient in the nutrient, however, may experience a condition known as pellagra.

This causes a dark and sometimes scaly rash to develop on skin areas exposed to sunlight, as well as bright redness of the tongue.

Other signs of a severe deficiency can include diarrhoea, constipation, depression, headache, memory loss and fatigue.

Side effects

As with most supplements, niacin is associated with several side effects, some more severe than others.

It can cause hyperglycaemia and worsen A1C control, but these increases are often clinically insignificant or readily treated.

Doses up to 2,000 mg/day have been well-tolerated in diabetic patients with little increase in fasting plasma glucose.

US Pharmacist adds: “Other reported adverse effects include hyperuricemia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and hypotension.

“Hepatotoxicity and flushing are also associated with the supplement, but these effects are generally dependent on the formulation. “

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