Niacin

[Graciedog123]

I have read recently that Niacin is beneficial for PD. I have also read it is not good for PD. Can anyone speak to their experience with Niacin?

[Bolt_Upright]

If you are smart or ask a healthcare professional you would know to stay away from high dose niacin.

I am not smart and I do not consult healthcare professionals about my protocols and I take 2 grams of Nicotinic Acid every day.

Important: There are multiple forms of Niacin, but I only believe in immediate release Nicotinic Acid. The kind that causes a flush. The no-flush extended release type NA can damage your liver (please do your own research).

Please check out this post of mine and all the comments: If Loving Nicotinic Acid is Wrong, I don't Want to be Right healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

[Discogs_discogs in reply to Bolt_Upright]

Oh wow, I thought that I had read somewhere that niacinamide, I.E flush free niacin, was generally more harmless to deliver than the flushing type. I can't remember my sources though. Did you read that niacinamide is harmful to the liver? Now I'm concerned.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Discogs_discogs]

Please check out this page on Niacin and liver damage: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK5...

"Outcome and Management: Niacin hepatotoxicity appears to be dose dependent and more common with the sustained release form of the drug. Hepatotoxicity is less common with regular, crystalline niacin or extended release niacin. Most cases are mild and resolve rapidly upon stopping the medication, although in some instances, the injury is acute and severe and progresses to liver failure that is fatal or requires emergency liver transplantation. Complete resolution of the clinical symptoms is expected within days of stopping niacin, whereas serum enzyme elevations may require several weeks or months to resolve. Rechallenge with the same form leads to rapid recurrence and should be avoided. If the injury occurred after switching to a SR formulation, the crystalline form of niacin may be restarted at a lower dose and with caution."

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Discogs_discogs]

Important (to me at least) is the studies using Nicotinic Acid targeted GPR109a and I don't think niacinamide does the same thing.

This is from my favorite AI, Claude:

No, sustained release Niacin is not the same as niacinamide. They are different forms of vitamin B3 with important distinctions:

Niacin (nicotinic acid):

- Can cause flushing (temporary redness, warmth, itching of the skin)

- Has more pronounced effects on cholesterol levels (lowers LDL, raises HDL)

- Available in immediate-release and sustained-release formulations

- Sustained-release niacin slowly releases the active ingredient to reduce flushing side effects

Niacinamide (nicotinamide):

- Does not cause flushing

- Has minimal to no effect on cholesterol levels

- Used primarily for skin conditions and other therapeutic purposes

- Generally considered to have fewer side effects than niacin

These different forms of vitamin B3 have different clinical applications based on their properties and side effect profiles. If you're considering taking either supplement, it would be best to consult with a healthcare provider about which form is appropriate for your specific health needs.

[Discogs_discogs in reply to Bolt_Upright]

Thank you. In that article, the only reference that I saw to nicotinamide, aka. niacinamideis the following:

Winter SL, Boyer JL. Hepatic toxicity from large doses of Vitamin B (nicotinamide). N Engl J Med. 1973;289:1180–2. [PubMed]

(35 year old man developed nausea and vomiting 18 months after starting nicotinamide for schizophrenia [bilirubin 5.6 mg/dL], resolving with stopping and recurring within 10 days of restarting excessively high doses [9 g/day] [bilirubin 4.9, ALT 2640 U/L]).

[TL500]

so does niacin help with PD?

[Gamz]

been taking it for about eight months for cholesterol one gram a day. It has helped cholesterol. No noticeable effects on my Parkinson’s. doctor doesn’t prescribe I suggest not using it. I hate the flush, but it only about 30 minutes or so time I took it I passed out

[PHILCAM]

One form of Vitamin B3, nicotinamide riboside (NR), has shown promise in clinical studies for its potential benefits in PD - dosage is important

Have you looked at P-5-P (B6) - ?

In the context of Parkinson's Disease (PD), P-5-P is particularly relevant due to its role in neurotransmitter synthesis. Vitamin B6 is essential for the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which are critical for mood regulation and motor function. Since PD is characterized by the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons, maintaining adequate levels of P-5-P can support the body's ability to produce dopamine and potentially alleviate some symptoms of PD.

Additionally, P-5-P helps in reducing homocysteine levels, which is beneficial for brain health. Elevated homocysteine levels have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. By breaking down homocysteine, P-5-P contributes to protecting the brain and supporting cognitive function

supplements.selfdecode.com/...

[MarkPrana]

Another vote for the Nicotinamide Riboside form of B3 - this has been through (and is continuing to progress through) well-funded clinical trials. Appears to target mitchondrial dysfunction.

Some of the research can be read about here:

parkinsons.org.uk/news/vita...

As well as here:

parkinsons.org.uk/news/more...

In the second study, the high dose of 3g/day (Nicotinamide Riboside) was only studied for 4 weeks - I don't know much about the safety of taking this high a dose over 2-3 years.

I take 1200mg (1.2g)/day of Nicotinamide Riboside, which I believe is the dose being studied in the current clinical trials here:

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NC...

with another dose-related study ongoing here:

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NC...