High dose Niacin to lower Chol. and improve HDL/LDL ratio

[Realgains]

Has anyone used high doses of Niacin, under the supervision of a doctor, to reduce cholesterol and improve HDL/LDL ratio?

 

[Nico Cujo]

I'd like to know too. How much niacin is necessary to lower the cholesterol?

 

[Charles Ray]

Well I've read an article on Niacin and it reccommended taking 6 500mg a day of no-flush niacin(so you don't get the discomfort from regular niacin). They said no to get niacinamide because it is not as effective. U're supposed to take it for 3 months and your LDL should lower by 25% and HDL rise by about the same. The catch is is that Niacin is harsh on the liver. So it would be harmful to take while cycling. However, there is something called red yeast rice that works really well for a lot of people. I haven't heard anything bad from any of the users. FYI



Charles Lee Ray aka Chucky

 

[SirWanksalot]

go here to read sh*tloads of reports on Niacin

http://qualitycounts.com/fpniacin.html

I take 500mg a day

Sirwanksalot

 

[Sadist]

I tried the no-flush at 1500mg a night for 3 months without effect- found out that there isn't any research supporting that it does. Regular niacin, time-release niacin or a prescription version called Niaspan all have research to support their effectiveness. An aspirin or two 1 hour before taking it helps reduce the flushing and you need to start low( like 500mg)and work your way up in doses( no more than 2000mg). The regular niacin is the least liver toxic, but has the most sides. The Niaspan is only slightly less toxic than the over-the-counter time-release version- pretty much any time release vitamin or med will impact the liver. My doc put me on 500mg of Niaspan at bedtime and that had a significant impact lowering my LDL's by about 15 after just two months. Its best to take it before bedtime because that is when your liver is synthesizing LDL cholesterol and niacin reduces that process.

"However, there is something called red yeast rice that works really well for a lot of people. "

I would steer clear of this because it is very liver toxic- it is the same thing as a class of drugs called "Statins" like Lipitor, Zocor, and Baycol ( probably heard abou that one in the news). If you do take it you need to get your liver functions checked every month and get an eye exam every month minimum. It also increases the liver toxic effects of niacin( although they are prescribed to be taken together).

 

[Realgains]

Thanks for the good info Sadist. Does your doc know you are no juice?

Dr.'s precribe regular Niacin at 1500 to 300o mg per day to help lower total chol. and raise HDL. It is considered fairly safe but liver enzymes are still monitored.

The new time released Niacin "Niaspan" is very good and has less if any "flush".
The older time released Niacins are not good at all...way too liver toxic

I think that 500mg a day will probably do something and have no affect on the liver at all.

 

[Sadist]

I didn't actually start an AS cycle til I was prescribed test fo rlow levels , but only 5mg/night of Androderm now. I've been on that for 3 months and my cholesterol has improved even more. In fact he took me off the Niaspan until we get my test levels up to normal.