Niacin Doesn't Help Heart - Junk Science and False Reporting

Niacin doesn’t help heart made the headlines in March of 2013 in various news sources. But, it’s misleading. For those who only read the headlines or the vapid summaries of reporters who don’t really understand the details of the subject at hand and unthinkingly regurgitate biased conclusions of researchers, one might believe that the vitamin niacin (also known as B3 or nicotinic acid) could actually harm you.

It’s important to realize the natural substance called niacin (B3) was NOT studied, it was a synthetic version made in a lab in combination with another drug called Laropiprant, also synthetic and a certain confounding factor that obscures any decision about even synthetic niacin, let alone natural niacin.

Most people don’t realize studies are rarely done on natural substances because they can’t be patented. That’s why natural niacin was not studied. Pharmaceutical companies MUST change the molecular structure of something…in this case taking the natural niacin, altering at least one molecule of it, thereby creating a new substance..and that may be patented. For some reason, there is an assumption by well educated researchers that this new creation will function identically to the substance from which it originated. I assure you that if man has created or altered a natural substance, the body will not recognize it and that’s why the unexpected symptoms occur.

Let’s get into the details of this study the headlines don’t mention and explain why unless you have specific knowledge about this subject, you’ll never know if this is good science or junk science.

Headlines are sometimes all people read in the newspaper. From this headline, some may now assume niacin (B3) to be worthless, certainly for heart health issues, but also in general. So much for taking your vitamins, some might think.

The pharmaceutical/medical establishment consistently perpetuates the myth that “natural” substances, when taken as vitamin supplementation are ineffective for common chronic health complaints. Since they cannot patent natural products, there is no motivation (revenue) for them as they directly compete with products (drugs) they create for those same common chronic health complaints.

Little research is done on natural products or their efficacy, but it’s there if you look. Once in a while a study appears about artificially created substances that they believe “resemble” the original natural product. Close enough is good enough, they must think. It certainly creates confusion for those unfamiliar with the biochemistry of the human body.

This is the huge point to be made about the Heart Protection Study 2-Treatment of HDL to Reduce the Incidence of Vascular Events (HPS2-THRIVE) study, a large randomized trial testing the use of extended-time release niacin and the anti-flushing agent laropiprant for the reduction of major vascular events, reported at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2013 Scientific Sessions.

In it, synthetic niacin was coupled with another synthetic drug called laropiprant. Together, the medication is called Tredaptive. Nothing natural here. And they wonder why there were not just “unexpected” side effects, there were serious adverse events such as a significant increase in hemorrhagic stroke, serious infections and new onset diabetes.

This landmark study of specially formulated niacin in 25,673 high-risk patients found compared to treatment with a statin drug (Vytorin), the relative risk of myopathy (muscle weakness) was more than four times higher for patients treated with Tredaptive. Investigators actually gave the treatment to 38,000 possible volunteers and found that a third opted out, typically because of the itching, rashes, indigestion, niacin flush and muscle problems they experienced.

Over 3.9 years, there were 31 serious adverse event rate among every 1,000 niacin-treated patients. That’s huge!

The study found no significant benefit of extended-time release niacin with laropiprant on the primary outcome of major vascular events when added to statin-based low density lipoprotein (LDL) lowering therapy.

So, what’s necessary to understand when analyzing this information?

One may or may not believe a certain tenent of nature is true. That if man has created or altered a natural substance, the body will not recognize it nor utilize it in the same chemical pathways as its natural counterpart and that’s why the unexpected symptoms occur. It partially explains why ALL pharmaceutical drugs have side effects.

Blaming niacin in the presence of another drug (Laropiprant) is disingenuous and foolhardy and as one investigator was honest enough to say “…they cannot simply, in my opinion, implicate one component of a combination drug over the other component.”

The second drug Laropiprant is used in combination to overcome a side effect of the first. Niacin flush is redness and a feeling of warmth, primarily in the face. Typical thinking of the pharmaceutical world…to try to overcome the negative side effects of one drug they have created by adding a second drug they have created…and add another set of side effects to the first set.

Dr. Rory Collins, the chair of the study commented that these results now suggest that physicians should be titrating patients to higher and higher doses of statins in order to achieve low levels of LDL cholesterol. This is an obvious promotion of a drug without regard to the horrendous side effects that statins cause such as depletion of Co-enzyme Q 10 (necessary for heart muscle strength) and impairing production in the body of levels of Interleukin 1…the precursor to Interleukin 2, the only approved natural anti cancer cell compound. Without Interleukin 1, you can’t produce Interleukin 2.

Immediate release niacin (1500mg) daily results in 13% LDL and 10% Triglyceride reduction and 19% HDL increase comparing to placebo. Niacin flush is an unfortunate side effect and it also should not be used by patients with blood sugar problems or gout at this dose.

Nicotinamide, a slightly different version of niacin does not cause the niacin flush and has less study to prove its use for improvement of lipid profiles.

One of the most widely studied versions of niacin is inositol hexaniacinate. In numerous trials it has been found to be virtually free of the side effects associated with conventional niacin therapy (flushing). Extensive research has found it to be effective balancing lipid profiles.

In general, a dose from 1200 mg – 1800 mg a day of inositol hexanicotinate is likely to help circulation, boost HDL, and improve the condition of LDL. Higher doses, up to 4000 mg a day, can be used to help lower LDL. Niacin can be divided into two or more doses a day. Take one dose in the morning and another at bed to help fat metabolism while sleeping.

The real bottom line in this discussion is: Why on earth do they continue to try to design one synthetic molecule to treat one condition. Health…and the human body…is far more complex than that. Fine. Take some niacin. But heart health issues as well as imbalanced cholesterol levels are dietary problems. Regardless of family history.

Change your diet to either vegetarian or low carb! Both have proven to be cardio-protective. Then there’s no need for drugs or even natural niacin or inositol hexanicinate.