FLush Free Niacin?

[doxielove]

Does anyone use this for help with your cholesterol? Does it upset your stomach (a listed side effect is diarrhea). DId it help? TIA for your input.

[MACXXX]

See this blog for Dr. Davis' opinion regarding flush free:

The Heart Scan Blog: Niacin

"Flush-free niacin--I have previously posted on this useless but ubiquitous preparation that often costs several times more than conventional niacin. Flush-free niacin, or inositol hexaniacinate, does indeed contain niacin, but it is not released in the human body. You simply pass it out down the toilet, where this preparation belongs in the first place."

I personally have no opinion as I do not take niacin of any form. Just passing along a reference.

[porkfatrules]

I'd be interested in more info on this also -- I know some on this board swear by it!

[sugarless4life]

I swear by it. Its not useless at all; it has a long well documented history of improving cholesterol numbers. It did mine ! My doctor was the one who encouraged me to take it and I still do. I take 500 mg a day of the flush-free niacin and I have a cholesterol ratio of .86. (HDL 110, LDL 95, Trigs 73).

No negative side effects. Unfortunately most doctors poo-poo the use of vitamins in lieu of writing a prescription for statin drugs. (don't make me go there....)


Cholesterol lowering with niacin definition - Cholesterol Information Produced by Doctors For Patients Experiencing High Cholesterol Levels
Betty

[LustfortheMoment]

If you're going to use Niacin, it MUST be under a doctor's supervision .There are complicating conditions involving liver failure and/or rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) which must be monitored.

DO NOT TAKE NIACIN AVAIALABLE OVER THE COUNTER

DO NOT TAKE NIACIN AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER

The safest preparation is made by Abbott and is called NIASPAN

Good Luck,

[fawn]

While I respect Betty's decision to reduce her cholesterol numbers, I personally believe it's a bigger picture which requires testing and investigation.

Why reduce an LDL of large fluffy particles?
Have you had all numbers analyzed?

Have you cleansed your liver?
Have you eliminated vegetable oils which are known to increase cholesterol numbers via inflammation? A contributor to heart disease.

Are you incorporating plenty of omega 3 fatty acids for inflammation reduction?

If you have diligently worked on all of the above, then you might need further supplementation.

Just something to think about. I'm a firm believer that negative cholesterol readings are all related to one or more of the above.

This is just my opinion, something to consider.

I have elevated cholesterol however, I've had my LDL tested and in fact at a number of 130, the particle size is acceptable to me.

[sugarless4life]

Fawn, those are excellent points to consider and I'm the first one to say I totally agree with everything you said. It *is* a much bigger picture than the simple lowering of cholesterol, its about eliminating the vegetable oils and increasing the good omega 3s, among other things. Regular rigorous cardiovascular exercise is very beneficial in improving cholesterol numbers as well. All that said, I still believe in flush-free niacin !

Betty

[MACXXX]

Originally Posted by sugarless4life

I swear by it. Its not useless at all; it has a long well documented history of improving cholesterol numbers. It did mine ! My doctor was the one who encouraged me to take it and I still do. I take 500 mg a day of the flush-free niacin and I have a cholesterol ratio of .86. (HDL 110, LDL 95, Trigs 73).

No negative side effects. Unfortunately most doctors poo-poo the use of vitamins in lieu of writing a prescription for statin drugs. (don't make me go there....)


Cholesterol lowering with niacin definition - Cholesterol Information Produced by Doctors For Patients Experiencing High Cholesterol Levels
Betty

You have to understand that Dr. Davis is looking at niacin for its effects on reducing CT calcium scores. In other words arterial plaque. I am sure he has data to back up his statements.

[doxielove]

Thank you to all who responded...I truly value your opinions. These are my numbers:

Total Cholesterol: 254
Triglycerides: 131
HDL: 50
LDL: 178

An ultrasound of my carotid arteries last week showed some calcification (plaque) in the bulb on each side...not dangerous yet but the tech said I really am too young to have it (47), so I am a bit concerned.

What's better - krill or fish oil? Can you recommend a good brand?

Thank you!

[sugarless4life]

Krill oil is supposed to be alot better than regular fish oil. I got a bottle at Vitamin Shoppe (can't remember the brand). I think Walgreens carries it too.

Here's good reading on the subject.

Why krill oil? | The Blog of Michael R. Eades, M.D.

Betty

[fireflyfaster]

Originally Posted by fawn

Have you eliminated vegetable oils which are known to increase cholesterol numbers via inflammation? A contributor to heart disease.

Just briefly -- either by list or link:

Which oils are the worst? Which oils are the best? (I know that coconut oil is one.)

[MACXXX]

Originally Posted by fireflyfaster

Just briefly -- either by list or link:

Which oils are the worst? Which oils are the best? (I know that coconut oil is one.)

Any oil that is predominantly polyunsaturated(Omega 6s) are the worst. Olive oil which is predominantly mono-unsaturated is good.

See this website for inflammatory ratings for a given food as well as the breakdown by type of fat: Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Beef, bottom sirloin, tri-tip, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, raw

[sugarless4life]

Originally Posted by LustfortheMoment

If you're going to use Niacin, it MUST be under a doctor's supervision .There are complicating conditions involving liver failure and/or rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) which must be monitored.

DO NOT TAKE NIACIN AVAIALABLE OVER THE COUNTER

DO NOT TAKE NIACIN AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER

The safest preparation is made by Abbott and is called NIASPAN

Good Luck,

I've seen two different doctors and BOTH recommended over the counter flush-free niacin. All it has done for me is radically improved my numbers and my doctors could not be happier. In fact, last time I went in, I took my blood test results and the doctor asked to keep a copy to show other patients !

As for the liver issue, my liver enzymes are checked regularly and have always come back perfect. Muscle breakdown? Haven't experienced that; in fact my muscles are stronger than ever, thanks to running 35 miles a week, 52 weeks a year!

Betty

[Elloise]

Originally Posted by LustfortheMoment

DO NOT TAKE NIACIN AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER[/I][/B]

The safest preparation is made by Abbott and is called NIASPAN

My dad takes that one. Prescription and expensive. $200 for 90 tablets.

[sugarless4life]

Originally Posted by Elloise

My dad takes that one. Prescription and expensive. $200 for 90 tablets.

Holy smokes!!! I pay about $6 for 120 capsules, 500 mg each.


Betty

[KutiePie]

My doctor recommended Slo-niacin (over the counter) instead of the overpriced prescription, Niaspan.

She said both are the same thing (nicotinic acid) which is also what the doctor says on the Heart Scan Blog, just not the absurd pharmaceutical price! I pay less than $14 for a bottle of 150 pills at Costco.

Will let you know how it works for me when I get my lab results back!

[LustfortheMoment]

NIASPAN is a Tier II drug in most health plans, generally costing $40 in co-payment for a 90 day supply.........

[sugarless4life]

Good luck, Kutie Pie!

Betty

[thestreets]

Originally Posted by LustfortheMoment

If you're going to use Niacin, it MUST be under a doctor's supervision .There are complicating conditions involving liver failure and/or rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) which must be monitored.

DO NOT TAKE NIACIN AVAIALABLE OVER THE COUNTER

DO NOT TAKE NIACIN AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER

The safest preparation is made by Abbott and is called NIASPAN

Good Luck,

Of course makes sense why get better with a cheap, over the counter supplement. It must be much better to take an overpriced, overhyped prescription so the doctors can get their cut. Ridiculous. Niacin is safe, it is a B vitamin, water soluble, of course if you have major chronic conditions then you should double check that it's safe for you.

[fawn]

Originally Posted by thestreets

Of course makes sense why get better with a cheap, over the counter supplement. It must be much better to take an overpriced, overhyped prescription so the doctors can get their cut. Ridiculous. Niacin is safe, it is a B vitamin, water soluble, of course if you have major chronic conditions then you should double check that it's safe for you.

Exactly......

key words being water soluble and chronc conditions.

Doxie, reducing your Tri's, eliminating vegetable oils soybean, safflower, corn, canola and sunflower will all be your best bet. Increasing your omega 3 fatty acids as well will help you out here......

Sugar, HFCS, Trans Fats and vegetable oils should just not be in the human diet.

[fawn]

Oh and the day I purchase a supplement through big pharma will be the day I start eating processed foods again.......

NEVER

[thestreets]

Originally Posted by fawn

Oh and the day I purchase a supplement through big pharma will be the day I start eating processed foods again.......

NEVER

Me too - because how many people die every year from supplements (a few at the most in very extreme cases(overdosing or contraindicated conditions)) compared with how many die from prescriptions/doctor and hospital mistakes (hundreds of thousands). After all, doctors are something like the third leading cause of death in the US.

[doxielove]

Thank you again, everyone. Fawn, when you say reducing my tri's, is that done by eliminating those bad fats you mentioned?

[Elloise]

Originally Posted by sugarless4life

Holy smokes!!! I pay about $6 for 120 capsules, 500 mg each.


Betty

Yep! That was my point. My bottle was $8 or thereabouts at Sam's. I don't remember the capsule count.

Even with his perscription co-pay, Niaspan costs him $60 for 90 tablets (90 day supply). And they are these big orange tablets so anyone with swallowing issues, like the elderly, will struggle.

[sugarless4life]

Originally Posted by fawn

Oh and the day I purchase a supplement through big pharma will be the day I start eating processed foods again.......

NEVER

AMEN!

Doing my part NOT to line the deep pockets of Big Pharma.

Betty

[fawn]

Originally Posted by doxielove

Thank you again, everyone. Fawn, when you say reducing my tri's, is that done by eliminating those bad fats you mentioned?

most particularly, eliminating sugar and refined foods. Triglycerides are sugars converted to fat in the liver. The cells have minimal glucose uptake....what the body doesn't allow in the cell, it is taken back to the liver and converted to fat. HFCS is automatically converted to fat.