Posted by Larry Hoover on August 7, 2003, at 16:50:26
In reply to LARRY-Question on Supplement!, posted by Capri on August 7, 2003, at 15:05:44
> Hi Larry,
>
> I ordered the book "Mind Boosters". I am looking into taking Nianicimide (sp?) Someone told me not to take 500 mg, 4x a daily without physician approval. Maybe I should see a Holistic Doc who can direct me. What do ya think?
>
> Thanks!
> CapriI've searched the most conservative sources I can find, and the risk threshold for niacinamide is higher than the dose I suggested. The liver-damaging effects of high-dose vitamin B3 therapy are almost always associated with slow-release forms of niacin (nicotinic acid), rather than niacinamide. The rare incidents of liver damage are almost always reversible (by stopping the B3), and may well be prevented by ensuring adequate sources of methyl groups for the liver to use in the catabolism of excess B3. Those would be folate/B12, but in particular, betaine is said to be the preferable supplement to use. Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine, or TMG.
Looking closely at more general references, it appears to me as if the risk associated with slow-release niacin has been generalized to all forms of B3. I don't think that's reasonable, but it *may* be prudent.
For absolute assurance of safety, periodic liver enzyme tests (via blood draw) would identify any problems at the earliest possible point in time.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:249035
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030807/msgs/249072.html