How to Determine Your Saturation Level of Niacin

[Guest guest]

I have also heard of people who take niacin in many small doses, almost on a

continuous basis, over the course of a day instead of one or two large doses.

 

F.

 

 

 

How to Determine Your Saturation Level of Niacin

 

http://www.doctoryourself.com/niacin.html

 

HOW TO DETERMINE A SATURATION LEVEL OF NIACIN

 

Niacin is vitamin B-3, one of the water soluble B-complex vitamins. One of

niacin's unique properties is its ability to help you naturally relax and get to

sleep more rapidly at night. And it is well established that niacin helps

reduce harmful cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D.

explains: " Niacin is one of the best substances for elevating high density

lipoprotein cholesterol (the " good cholesterol) and so decreases the ratio of

the total cholesterol over high density cholesterol. "

Another niacin feature is its ability to greatly reduce anxiety and depression.

Yet another feature of niacin is that it dilates blood vessels and creates a

sensation of warmth, called a " niacin flush. " This is often accompanied with a

blushing of the skin. It is this " flush " or sensation of heat that indicates a

temporary saturation of niacin, and that is our topic here.

When you flush, you can literally see and feel that you've taken enough niacin.

The idea is to initially take just enough niacin to have a slight flush. This

means a pinkness about the cheeks, ears, neck, forearms and perhaps elsewhere.

A slight niacin flush should end in about ten minutes or so. If you take too

much niacin, the flush may be more pronounced and longer lasting. If you flush

beet red for half an hour and feel weird, well, you took too much. And large

doses of niacin on an empty stomach is certain to cause profound flushing.

Dr. Hoffer writes: " With larger initial doses, the flush is more pronounced and

lasts longer, " says Dr. Hoffer. " But with each additional dose, the intensity of

the flush decreases and in most patients becomes a minor nuisance rather than an

irritant. Niacin should always be taken immediately after finishing ones meal. "

I have found that the best way for me to accurately control the flushing

sensation is to start with very small amounts of niacin and gradually increase

until the first flush is noticed. One method is to start with a mere 25

milligrams (25 mg) three times a day, say with each meal. The next day, try 50

mg at breakfast, 25 mg at lunch and 25 mg at supper. The following day, one

might try 50 mg at breakfast, 50 mg at lunch, and 25 mg at supper. And, the

next day, 50 mg at each of the three meals. The next day, 75 mg, 50 mg and 50

mg. Then, 75. 75 and 50, and so on. In this way you have increased at the easy

rate of only 25 mg per day. One would continue to increase the dosage by 25 mg

per day until the flush occurs.

It is difficult to predict a saturation level for niacin because each person is

different. As a general rule, the more you hold, the more you need. If you

flush early, you don't need much niacin. If flushing doesn't happen until a

high level, then your body is obviously using the higher amount of the vitamin.

Now that you've had your first flush, what next? Since a flush indicates

saturation of niacin, it is desirable to continue to repeat the flushing, just

very slightly, to continue the saturation. This could be done three or more

times a day. To get to sleep sooner at night, niacin can be taken to saturation

at bedtime, too. You might be asleep before you even notice the flush.

An important point here is that niacin is a vitamin, not a drug. It is not

habit forming. Niacin does not require a prescription because it is that safe.

It is a nutrient that everyone needs each day. Different people in different

circumstances require different amounts of niacin.

Says Dr. Hoffer: " A person's " upper limit is that amount which causes nausea,

and, if not reduced, vomiting. The dose should never be allowed to remain at

this upper limit. The usual dose range is 3,000 to 9,000 milligrams daily

divided into three doses, but occasionally some patients may need more. The

toxic dose for dogs is about 5,000 milligrams per 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) body

weight. We do not know the toxic dose for humans since niacin has never killed

anyone. "

Inevitable physician skepticism and questions about niacin's proven safety and

effectiveness are best answered in Orthomolecular Psychiatry, edited by David

Hawkins, M.D. and Linus Pauling, Ph.D. This nearly 700 page textbook is the

standard reference for details on niacin therapy. Persons with a history of

heavy alcohol use, liver disorders, diabetes, or pregnancy will especially want

to have their physician monitor their use of niacin in quantity. Monitoring

long-term use of niacin is a good idea for anyone. It consists of having your

doctor check your liver function with a simple blood test.

Plain and simple niacin may be purchased in tablets at any pharmacy or health

food store. Tablets typically are available in 50 mg, 100 mg, or 250 mg

dosages. The tablets are usually scored down the middle so you can break them

in half easily. You can break the halves in half, too, to get the exact amount

you want.

If a niacin tablet is taken on an empty stomach, a flush will occur (if it is

going to occur at all) within about 20 minutes. If niacin is taken right after

a meal, a flush may be delayed. In fact, the flush may occur long enough

afterwards that you forgot that you took the niacin! Don't let the flush

surprise you. Remember that niacin does that, and you can monitor it easily.

If you want a flush right away, you can powder the niacin tablet. This is

easily done by crushing it between two spoons. Powdered niacin on an empty

stomach can result in a flush within minutes. Sustained release niacin is often

advertised as not causing a flush at all. This claim may not be completely

true; sometimes the flush is just postponed. It would probably be difficult to

determine your saturation level with a sustained- or time-released product.

They are also more costly. But the biggest reason to avoid sustained-release

niacin is that most reports of side effects stem from use of that form.

There is nothing wrong with niacinAMIDE, by the way. That form of vitamin B-3

is frequently found in multiple vitamins and B-complex preparations.

Niacinamide does not cause a flush at all. In my opinion, it is less effective

in inducing relaxation and calming effects. Niacinamide also does not

significantly lower serum cholesterol. This is an important distinction to make

when purchasing.

It is a good idea to take all the other B-complex vitamins in a separate

supplement in addition to the niacin. The B-vitamins, like professional

baseball players, work best as a team. Still, the body seems to need

proportionally more niacin than the other B vitamins. Even the U.S. Recommended

Daily Allowance (RDA) for niacin is much more than for any other B-vitamin.

Many physicians consider the current RDA for niacin of only 20 mg to be way too

low for optimum health. While the government continues to discuss this, it is

possible to decide for yourself based on the success of doctors that use niacin

for their patients every day.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Vitamin B-3 and Schizophrenia: Discovery, Recovery, Controversy, by Abram

Hoffer, MD. ISBN 1-55082-079-6 Quarry Press, Kingston, Ontario Canada (1998)

The above Dr. Hoffer quotes are from a private communication, April 7, 2002

Reprinted from the book PAPERBACK CLINIC, copyright 2002, 1994 by Andrew Saul.

Available from the author at Number 8 Van Buren Street, Holley, New York 14470

USA Telephone (585) 638-5357

 

 

 

Gettingwell- / Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc.

 

To , e-mail to: Gettingwell-

Or, go to our group site: Gettingwell

 

 

 

 

Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now

 

 

[Guest guest]

This does not reflect my experience with Niacin. For me, taking it on an

empty stomach does not induce a flush because Niacin needs acid to be

absorbed. If I take niacin on an empty stomach, I get no flush on the same

amount of niacin that will induce a flush within 10 minutes of a high acid

meal. Taking Niacin, for example, with a salad that contains lemon juice or

vinegar, will cause a flush for me. With lemon juice or vinegar, 50 mg. of

niacin will induce a flush within 10 minutes in me. ON an empty stomach, 300

mg. of niacin will not induce a flush in me no matter how long I wait. I

happen to have very little stomach acid production, so I have to take

Betaine HCL with meals. But I suspect that other people with low stomach

acid production may have problems inducing a flush with niacin.

 

Linda Jones

lindaj

 

-

" Frank " <califpacific

<gettingwell >

Saturday, January 18, 2003 9:31 AM

How to Determine Your Saturation Level of Niacin

[Guest guest]

hi Linda - are there advantages to getting the flush? Also, i am still

unclear on the differences between regular niacin, niacinamide, and

what's called " flush free " niacin, or inositol hexanicotinate. The

recommended dosages for niacinamide, and " flush free " are much greater

than for regular B3 niacin, by a factor of about 4. I have both in the

house and wondering what the best form to take for arthritis is, based

on the info in the Kaufman study posted by Frank, in which he used

400-1200 mg of niacinamide daily taken in 4 divided doses. I have seen

recommended dosages of flush free to be about 4 grams daily.Any info

would be appreciated. thanks! scarlett

 

 

Linda Jones [lindaj]

Sunday, January 19, 2003 12:47 PM

Gettingwell

Re: How to Determine Your Saturation Level of

Niacin

 

 

This does not reflect my experience with Niacin. For me, taking it on an

empty stomach does not induce a flush because Niacin needs acid to be

absorbed. If I take niacin on an empty stomach, I get no flush on the

same

amount of niacin that will induce a flush within 10 minutes of a high

acid

meal. Taking Niacin, for example, with a salad that contains lemon juice

or

vinegar, will cause a flush for me. With lemon juice or vinegar, 50 mg.

of

niacin will induce a flush within 10 minutes in me. ON an empty stomach,

300

mg. of niacin will not induce a flush in me no matter how long I wait. I

happen to have very little stomach acid production, so I have to take

Betaine HCL with meals. But I suspect that other people with low stomach

acid production may have problems inducing a flush with niacin.

 

Linda Jones

lindaj

 

-

" Frank " <califpacific

<gettingwell >

Saturday, January 18, 2003 9:31 AM

How to Determine Your Saturation Level of Niacin