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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Vitamin

Niacin (Flush)

Flushing form of B3 — historically used for dyslipidemia at gram doses.

Cardiovascular HealthGeneral Wellness

Overview

Flushing form of B3 — historically used for dyslipidemia at gram doses.

Natural sources
    Common forms

      Forms & variants of Niacin (Flush)

      Different chemical forms of Niacin (Flush) behave differently. Browse each form's mechanism, bioavailability, and best-use context.

      Nicotinamide Riboside
      Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)

      NAD+ precursor that bypasses the flush — studied for cellular aging.

      NMN
      NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide)

      Direct NAD+ precursor — popular longevity supplement with growing human data.

      Niacinamide (Nicotinamide)
      Niacinamide

      Non-flushing B3 — used for deficiency, skin health, and at high doses in dermatology.

      Mechanism of action

      Activates GPR109A on adipocytes → reduces FFA flux → lowers VLDL/triglycerides.

      Pathways

        Effects on the body

        Organ system effects

        Evidence-based benefits

        Raises HDL and lowers LDL/TG

        Strong evidence

        Outcome benefit unclear (AIM-HIGH/HPS2-THRIVE).

        Potential side effects

        Common
        • · Flushing
        • · Itching
        • · Headache
        Rare
          Serious
          • · Hepatotoxicity (sustained-release)
          • · Hyperglycemia

          Drug interactions

          No notable interactions reported.

          Supplement interactions

          Pairs well with

          None listed.

          Avoid combining with

          No specific avoidances listed.

          Dosing & bioavailability

          Typical dose
          500 mg–2 g divided
          Upper safe limit
          2–3 g/d under MD supervision
          With food?
          With food

          Where to buy

          Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

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          Niacin (Flush)
          Amazon
          Wide selection · fast shipping
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          Niacin (Flush)
          iHerb
          Global delivery · curated brands
          Vitamin
          Niacin (Flush)
          Thorne
          Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

          Scientific evidence (8)

          RCTN Engl J Med · 2011

          Niacin on lipid profile (AIM-HIGH)

          AIM-HIGH Investigators

          RCT of niacin in patients on statin therapy.

          Key findings

          Raised HDL but no incremental clinical benefit on statin.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Niacin (Flush) — Raises HDL and lowers LDL/TG

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Niacin (Flush) Raises HDL and lowers LDL/TG" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Niacin (Flush) and "Raises HDL and lowers LDL/TG". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Niacin (Flush) — randomized controlled trial

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Niacin (Flush) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Niacin (Flush) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Niacin (Flush) — meta-analysis

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Niacin (Flush) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Niacin (Flush) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Niacin (Flush) — pharmacokinetics

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Niacin (Flush) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Niacin (Flush) and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Niacin (Flush) — safety adverse events

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Niacin (Flush) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Niacin (Flush) and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Niacin (Flush) — dose response

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Niacin (Flush) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Niacin (Flush) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

          Google Scholar: Niacin (Flush) — clinical evidence

          Live Scholar search

          Cross-database citation index for Niacin (Flush) as it relates to "clinical evidence".

          Key findings

          Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

          Open study
          Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.