Discussion: Nicotinic acid (Vitamin B-3) is a cholesterol lowering substance and protects against cardiovascular disease. It is also known as a detoxifying agent. It has been reported to relieve migraine headaches, alleviate arthritis, and reduce high blood pressure.

Nicotinic acid in large quantities is a vasodilator. Large amounts of niacin may cause dose related, harmless and short-lived sensations ranging from a mildly pleasant warm flush to tingling to extreme skin flushing resembling a sunburn, itching, gastric disturbances, and lowering of blood pressure

Large doses of niacin (as nicotinic acid, the form of niacin in this product) are prescribed to combat high blood pressure and to broadly improve blood cholesterol levels. Niacin is used to treat dyslipidemas because of its low cost and its unique ability to improve lipid profiles for ApoB, LDL, small dense LDL, HDL, HDL2b - an extremely good cholesterol, Lp(a), fibrinogen and triglycerides. Pharmacologic doses of niacin (1.5 to 3 grams/day in divided doses) typically reduce LDL cholesterol levels by 10 to 25 percent and triglyceride levels by 20 to 50 percent. HDL cholesterol levels are also typically increased by 15 to 35 percent.

The name 'niacin' was derived from nicotinic acid + vitamin.