How Niacin Lowers Cholesterol

It has been known for years that increased levels ofexcess bad cholesterol in your blood and takes it back
niacin in the blood stream is a very effective way ofto your liver for disposal. The higher the good
reducing cholesterol levels without the need ofcholesterol, the less bad cholesterol you’ll have in
additional drugs. Numerous medical and universityyour blood.
studies have shown that niacin lowers overallIn a study called the “Coronary Drug Project”
cholesterol levels.which ran for 6 years and included 3908 patients to
These studies show that niacin reduces the badstudy the effects of niacin besides lowering both
cholesterol (LDL) by 10-20%, reduces triglycerides (fattriglycerides and cholesterol levels there were other
in the blood) by 20-50% and raises the goodastonishing results:
cholesterol (HDL) by 15 to 35%.The study found that the use of niacin led to a 14%
Niacin accomplishes these changes naturally in thereduction in non fatal heart attack, a 26% reduction in
following ways:damage to blood vessels in the brain (stroke or
1) It reduces the breakdown of fat from fat cells whichblockage) and a 47% reduction in the need for
is the source of raw material used by the liver tocoronary artery bypass surgery.
create excess triglyceriedes.Unfortunately, the use of niacin to bring down
2) It inhibits the liver from converting sugar tocholesterol levels never became popular due to the
triglycerides.high amounts of niacin needed, which created side
3) It inhibits the liver from creating the building blocks ofeffects due to “niacin flush”. (Niacin cannot be
the bad cholesterol (VLDL) and thus as a result theconfused with niacinaide or nictoinamide which does
bad cholesterol drops naturally.not cause flushing and does not lower cholesterol
4) Virtually every study done on niacin has shown it tolevels).
increase good cholesterol and which then picks up the