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In order to avoid pellagra, a condition brought on by a niacin deficiency, the food industry in the United States has been adding niacin, commonly known as vitamin B3, to bread, flour, and maize products for decades. With the exception of a few groups with severe food hardship, pellagra is essentially nonexistent in the nation now because to the program’s remarkable success. Preventing deficiencies is beneficial, but too much niacin in the diet may raise the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a recent study published in Nature Medicine on February 19.
High Niacin Levels Linked to Heart Risks
Individuals who have higher blood levels of niacin, generally referred to as vitamin B3, may be at a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke compared to those who have lower amounts. The vitamin, which is frequently added to fortified food and is also available as a supplement, has the potential to cause blood vessel inflammation in excess. Globally, heart attacks and strokes rank among the top causes of mortality. Although during the past few decades, researchers have made great progress in identifying certain risk factors for these illnesses, not all of them have been found.
Stanley Hazen, based at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, suggests that even if individuals address high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and other known risk factors, they may still be susceptible to experiencing a heart attack. This implies that there is an unidentified factor or aspect in play contributing to the risk.
Blood Samples Analyzed for Metabolic Byproducts
In an effort to bridge these gaps, Hazen and his colleagues collected blood samples from 2331 adults in the US and 832 individuals in Europe who had made the decision to undergo cardiovascular testing. In order to find metabolites—waste products of metabolic processes like digestion—the team analyzed the samples. The researchers next tracked the participants’ incidence of cardiac events, such as heart attacks and strokes, throughout a three-year period.
They found that the likelihood of such an occurrence was, on average, almost 60% greater in individuals with higher levels of the metabolite 4PY than in those with lower levels. This chemical form occurs only when excess niacin is broken down by the body. Additional research showed that 4PY causes inflammation in the blood arteries of animals.
Niacin once Believed to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
According to Hazen, there’s a growing body of research supporting the claims that niacin pills offer anti-aging properties. Furthermore, doctors used to prescribe high-dose Niacin to patients who were at risk of cardiovascular disease since it was believed that the vitamin prevented these disorders by decreasing cholesterol. However, this practice has just lately ceased.
Food Provides Recommended Daily Niacin Intake
Adults require 14 to 18 milligrams of niacin per day to prevent a deficit. This is present in some foods, such as niacin-fortified foods, such as 4 ounces of peanuts and 6 ounces of tuna. On the other hand, the researchers note that therapeutic quantities of niacin, such as those utilized in clinical studies for decreasing cholesterol, are around 1,500 to 2,500 milligram’s per day. The research did not include anyone using over-the-counter or prescription niacin supplements, according to Hazen. Thus, the participants’ primary supply of niacin will come from their food.
Researchers discovered that serious adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and stroke, were more common in those with greater levels of a breakdown product of excess niacin. According to experts, the breakdown product known as 4PY raises the risk of cardiovascular disease by inflaming blood arteries. To fully comprehend the relationship between various excess niacin levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease events, more study is required. Researchers recommend reevaluating the niacin fortification of food.
