What Are the Benefits of Niacin Pills?

Niacin is a water-soluble B vitamin, also known as vitamin B3, nicotinamide or nicotinic acid. People take niacin pills as prescribed by a doctor for niacin deficiency or as a toxin flush.

Function

• Niacin helps to convert carbohydrates into energy and keep your nervous system, digestive system, skin, hair and eyes healthy.

The Facts

• A well-balanced diet usually provides enough niacin, but sometimes it is prescribed in supplement form to help normalize cholesterol levels and for circulatory problems.

Benefits

• Supplementation may help avoid a deficiency of niacin, which can lead to a condition called pellagra. Symptoms include inflamed skin, digestive problems and mental impairment.

Additional Benefits

• Some believe niacin has the ability to flush toxins out of the body's fatty tissue. This is done, they say, when niacin dilates the capillaries, allowing blood flow access to the toxins.

Warning

• Niacin should only be used under medical supervision, since it can cause severe side effects such as liver damage, peptic ulcers, skin rashes or even death.