Study says too much of this vitamin causes heart disease

As per a recent study, consuming too much vitamin B3 or niacin, as it is popularly called, might lead to inflammation in the arteries and this might increase the risk of myocardial infarction or stroke.

The results of the study have been published in Nature Medicine. For the study, more than 1,100 people were observed.

The scientists identified two molecules, 2PY and 4PY. Both of these are produced when the body breaks down excess niacin.

“The researchers examined 2PY and 4PY levels in two other groups, one American and one European, totaling more than 3,000 people. They confirmed that elevated levels of either molecule were associated with increased risk of major cardiac events. People with 2PY or 4PY levels in the top 25% had 1.6-2 times the risk of major cardiac events over the next three years as those with levels in the bottom 25%, even after controlling for other CVD risk factors,” NIH says.

Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin essential for various bodily functions. It exists in two forms: nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, both of which are converted into coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) in the body. These coenzymes play crucial roles in cellular metabolism, energy production, and DNA repair.

Niacin is found abundantly in foods such as meat, poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, and fortified cereals. Additionally, the body can synthesize niacin from the amino acid tryptophan, although this pathway is not always sufficient to meet the body’s needs. A deficiency in vitamin B3 can lead to a condition called pellagra, characterized by symptoms such as dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and in severe cases, death. Pellagra was historically common in populations whose diets were heavily reliant on corn, which lacks sufficient niacin unless treated with alkali.

Niacin supplementation has been used to treat hyperlipidemia, as it can help lower LDL cholesterol levels and raise HDL cholesterol levels. High–dose niacin (1,500–2,000 mg/day) was also one of the first cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, high doses of niacin may cause adverse effects such as flushing, itching, and liver toxicity.

The outcome of the study suggests that niacin or vitamin B3 is a newer risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. “Niacin’s effects have always been somewhat of a paradox,” Dr. Stanley Hazen from Cleveland Clinic, who led the study says. “Despite niacin lowering cholesterol, the clinical benefits have always been less than anticipated based on the degree of LDL [cholesterol] reduction. This led to the idea that excess niacin caused unclear adverse effects that partially counteracted the benefits of LDL lowering. We believe our findings help explain this paradox,” he added.