Just got back for naturopath
After my acid reflux incident, she decide to put me on niacin no-flush (inosito hexanicotinate) 625mg 3X per day along with plant sterol 400 mg 3 X per day.
Does these number sound ok?

I'm not so sure no-flush niacin actually does anything. In my own personal experience, it doesn't -- although if it works for you, please post here about it. Perhaps certain brands work, while others don't... but I have a feeling that no brands work.

You can also consider plant stanols, along with the sterols (or maybe instead of the sterols). Benecol makes some little chewy stanol caramel things. People seem to have had good results with them (10-15% decrease in LDL).

I'm not so sure no-flush niacin actually does anything. In my own personal experience, it doesn't -- although if it works for you, please post here about it. Perhaps certain brands work, while others don't... but I have a feeling that no brands work.



Not correct namelessme.

Inositol hexanicotinate has been extensively researched over here in Europe, but very few studies have been carried out in the States.
In Germany it is prescribed by doctors in preference to any other form of Niacin, including Niaspan, following promising head to head trials against the weaker Statins and Niaspan.
However, as with any other drug, it works for some but not for all.

My wife gave it a try a year or two ago, using the Solgar brand 1000mg. per day.
As her ratios were high at that time, it did not reduce her TC or LDL by more than 15%. However, her Trigs dropped from 212 to 115, with her HDL only increasing marginally (7%).

BouBou,
If your not going back on the RYR then.....

The 3 x 625mg sounds OK, but you must also take a Vitamin B complex along with any form of Niacin.
The Sterols seem a little low. Try to consume a minimum of 2 gms per day.

Lord Taff

Not correct namelessme.


My wife gave it a try a year or two ago, using the Solgar brand 1000mg. per day.
As her ratios were high at that time, it did not reduce her TC or LDL by more than 15%. However, her Trigs dropped from 212 to 115, with her HDL only increasing marginally (7%).
Lord Taff

Was she doing anything else at the time for her cholesterol? I ask, as those results are a bit odd for niacin supplementation. Typically, HDL rises, while LDL lowers by a much smaller amount. I have never heard of niacin lowering LDL more than it raises HDL.

It'd be great if no-flush does work. And I have read some small studies from Europe on it, but they weren't the most intensive, nor very recent. I'd love to see a large double-blinded study comparing it to Niaspan or IR niacin.

In my own case, my triglycerides maybe fell about 10% or so, but that could have been due to chance, and my HDL didn't improve at all. That was on 2500 mg/daily of no-flush niacin for several months. Niaspan has improved my HDL, LDL and Triglycerides, however, at 500mg/daily.

It could have been the brand I used, perhaps, or something else odd. I'm skeptical of no-flush though, as most cardiologists say it doesn't work, and if it did, why aren't prescription companies making a version to sell for big bucks, like they did with regular niacin? Seems like statin makers would combine no-flush niacin + statin, and cash in.

The no-flush niacin I'm using it made by AOR classic series (Canadian Company I think)
I must say I am reticent about using it but even tho there isn't much showing that RYR causes heartburn and the likes, it really did for me. I wish I could continue taking it because I got excellent results from it but it's too uncomfortable.

I'll get some B complex vitamin at GNC tomorrow
As for the sterols, we don't have any sterol added to foods here like benecol and the likes, I wish we did! I have to take it in capsule form
I'm also on a liver detox

The no-flush niacin I'm using it made by AOR classic series (Canadian Company I think)
I must say I am reticent about using it but even tho there isn't much showing that RYR causes heartburn and the likes, it really did for me. I wish I could continue taking it because I got excellent results from it but it's too uncomfortable.

I'll get some B complex vitamin at GNC tomorrow
As for the sterols, we don't have any sterol added to foods here like benecol and the likes, I wish we did! I have to take it in capsule form
I'm also on a liver detox


AOR is considered a very reputable company, so that's a good choice. I considered trying the same exact brand, but ended up going with Niaspan, as I was a bit impatient experimenting with various things.

Let us know how it works, as I'm very interested if no-flush does in fact help. Your HDL number will be the real indicator here, as you are also taking sterols at the same time.

<removed> You may wish to ask your doctor if stanols would be better than sterols, as I have read some articles that state they may be. Sterols have been found in some arterial plaque, meaning they could be taking the place of regular cholesterol. If this means they are good or bad... not sure. Stanols aren't absorbed, on the other hand, but they can block some vitamins, so if you went that route, make sure to take a multi-vitamin.

And if you do take a multi-vitamin, I'm not so sure you even need the B complex when you take niacin. Two cardiologists I asked said it wasn't necessary, so long as you get Bs from a multi. Keep an eye on your homocysteine, that's one way to check.

Yes those results are correct. However, she was and still is taking EPA/DHA oil.
Give you a clue or two for the information you seek. European medical journal and/or British medical journal.


Lord Taff.

Thanks for the info, I'll check it out. Although... her results do seem to be more in line with benefits from omega 3 supplementation, not no-flush niacin. Fish oil can lower triglycerides by 50% or so, lower LDL a small amount (sometimes), and raise HDL by a small amount -- exactly what her numbers seemed to do.

If she stopped taking no-flush niacin, yet remained on fish oil, and her numbers went bad again, then perhaps it was in fact the niacin that helped.

And if you do take a multi-vitamin, I'm not so sure you even need the B complex when you take niacin. Two cardiologists I asked said it wasn't necessary, so long as you get Bs from a multi. Keep an eye on your homocysteine, that's one way to check.

I'm taking a multi-vitamin from GNC so hopefully, that will do the trick.
It's getting complicated to remember what to take when, I'm taking so many different supplements!

garlick,
multi-vitamin
calcium with D and magnesium vitamin
Vit C
fish oil
niacin
sterol
and the thorne T.A.P.S liver detox

I think that's all :jester: