I needed to disable self sign-ups because I’ve been getting too many spam-type accounts. Thanks.
About nicotinic acid
This has always been Grant Genereux’s blog; no one else has published articles here before. I believe blog posts should reflect the personal perspective of their author and not be outsourced to others, as that introduces external bias and leaves the blog owner in as much ignorance as the readers.
That’s precisely why there’s a “Discussion” section, where readers—myself included, as both a follower and admirer—can freely comment and even voice simple or naïve thoughts.
I must add: the guest post emphasizes potential adverse effects of nicotinic acid without offering clear conclusions on its suitability. This certainly serves to encourage caution and prudence among readers, especially those familiar with Dr. GS’s network. However, I don’t think it’s appropriate to give such a post prominent space on the main page, particularly since it appears directed against the work and reputation of that network and its leading figures.
In my opinion, it would be more appropriate for this article to appear in the “Discussion” section, not on the homepage. I often recommend this website in my hospital practice, but the current placement of the article may mislead new visitors and distracts from the blog’s main focus: vitamin A toxicity.
Many thanks again to Grant Genereux for making life more worthwhile for so many of us. I strongly request that this article be removed from the homepage, as it only fuels a controversy unrelated to the central thesis that vitamin A is, in fact, a toxin. I do not believe the blog’s owner intended to start a contentious debate that many of us find tiring.
If the post’s author were the blog creator, that would be a different matter. But that’s just my opinion. Thank you all.
Hi @javier,
Thanks for the feedback on this. The reason Hope's guest author post is a prominent space on the main page is just because it is the most recent post added.
I'll try moving it to another location on the home page.
Currently, I'm mixed on the risk / benefits of Nicotinic Acid. I still need to look into it a lot more.
However, I've had a few reports from people who say they've had a bad reaction to NA use. Two people reported developing dry skin and eczema, and one other person reported developing dry scalp and dandruff. Of course, these are not super serious conditions, but since they are documented symptoms of NA toxicity we are now starting to see the results of long term NA use. And no, dandruff is not a zinc or selenium deficiency condition, it's much more likely a Niacin toxicity issue. I confirmed that with my own first hand experience with it.
Both NA and Niacinamide mess with lipid metabolism and block sebum production. Garrett's claim that Niacinamide is the bad or terrible form of Niacin is probably mostly correct. However, what I've not heard him mention is that some of the NA consumed also converts into Niacinamide. Therefore taking NA for an extended time is also taking the bad form: Niacinamide.
Some other concerns I have is that the Flushing effect of NA is documented as a toxicity reaction. But I also consider the Flushing response to be more of a somewhat minor concern.
The biggest concern I have with NA is that Russia has now banned NA as a food supplement claiming it could cause heart attack and strokes.
Personally, I have a lot of respect for Russian science and chemistry ( BTW, the inventor of the periodic table was Russian)
So, there are definitely reasons to be very, very careful. As I've said many times, people need to be extremely careful with any and all supplements.
Secondly, as with some other supplements people are commonly taking, I'm starting to feel that these practices are going to contribute to giving the low vA diet a bad reputation. People really need to understand the full risk / benefits before taking a supplement and should never do it just on someone's advice (blind faith).
Somewhat related, I have a very big concern with the advice to drink only reverse osmosis water. Reverse osmosis removes all the minerals from water, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium, and leaves the water slightly acidic. The low vA diet is usually already low on calcium, magnesium, etc, and then combining that reverse osmosis water with daily NA use, it could easily be an absolute disaster made to order.
None-the-less, I'm still open minded on NA, and there may be some benefit in taking it for a short while. But, taking it on a long term basis just on someone's profit motive speculation is super risky IMO.
Grant,
Is this "nicotinic acid" in any way related to nicotine? Is the lowering of serum vitamin a reported with nicotine use possibly just conversion of vitamin a to retinoic acid, or am I crossing my wires on this?
Good points on all above.
I supplemented nicotinic acid short term - about a year. Interesting how water and supplements play on mineral balance. Worth a long post and thread of its own.
For my n=1 on nicotinic acid, water and buffers:
I started at 25mg nicotinic acid daily. Slowly increased to 8g daily. After awhile dropped it to 2g daily. Kept it there about a year.
At 100mg and up, I added buffers. Magnesium, potassium and sodium bicarbonates and carbonates. Early on I checked the pH of the niacin solution I was drinking. It was still around 6.0 after all the buffering. Made me check my water. I started with 5.0 for pH on water. I needed more than the LYL recommended dose for buffers.
Have used distilled water for decades. Our well water quality is questionable. Local manufacturing probably contaminated it. We mitigate as much as we can. When discussing with others how we got to 5.0 on distilled water, consensus speculation is carbon dioxide was absorbed into water to make carbonic acid. To get pH over 7.0 on final product, I tripled LYL recommended buffering dose. Worked out well. The buffers gave relief to nightly cramps. Prevented tooth enamel issues typical with ingesting acids. Presume they prevented bone weakening. Looking back bone strengthening might have come from other factors as well.
Found the flush and calming effects of nicotinic acid dosing pleasurable. Other than that, I have zero claims I can make as to improvements. Have written a few testimonials on improvements via vA, B6 and copper reductions and depletions. Improvements were obvious. I have read plenty of reasonable looking science on genius of nicotinic acid. One of the most convincing is on nicotinic acid enemas curing drug resistant ulcerative colitis.
The logic runs that nicotinic acid increases every epithelial cell's production of lactoferrin. This in turn improves membrane healing and integrity. While I have first hand experience with topical zinc oxide doing that, I have zero experience with topical or oral nicotinic acid doing it.
I had thought to write a testimonial on nicotinic acid and buffers regarding cramps. Hard to justify that yet.
For years I have left sources of magnesium, potassium and sodium readily available every morning on kitchen counter. My routine since 1990's is foot and leg cramps wake me, sometimes in middle of night. Until cramps subside, sleep is impossible.
Sources of relief vary. It is a daily experiment. Gives credibility that cramps are caused by multiple issues. Relief can come from passing urine, drinking water, drinking milk, eating potassium, magnesium or salt, chicken soup broth (bone, lemon, salt), eating charcoal oatmeal, oatmeal, citric acid or some combination. Vitamin K supplements have sometimes helped but never immediately the way these others give relief. Noteworthy that the wrong choice of factor to address routinely worsens cramps.
Surprisingly sleeping on a slanted bed with head elevated helps too. During past lymph edema episodes relief came with elevating feet.
All that to say that I found relief from cramps during first few months of nicotinic acid supplementation. Attributed to buffers. Cramps remained problematic at lower doses of nicotinic acid before buffering was required. After first few months of nicotinic acid, nightly cramping returned. Adjusting buffers sometimes helped. Hit or miss became mostly miss.
During my first few months on low vA diet, LYL advice was that chicken bone broth usually entailed too much heavy metal toxicity. Given the relief I got from sipping cold broth on cold sores, sore throats and cramps, I kept up the broth against LYL advice. Looking back, I think that broth was my main source of calcium all this time. Guessing this is a factor that separated me from others who developed calcium deficiency symptoms.
It makes sense. Old nutrition doctrine is that 5 macro minerals are essential and interact to balance and imbalance each other and micro minerals and nutrients.
Calcium, potassium and magnesium help each other to drive down BP and drive up pH.
Sodium and phosphorus work together to drive up BP and drive down pH.
First learned this in the 1990's. Symptoms have compelled me to relearn it when I forgot. All experience and reading since have confirmed belief in this doctrine. Getting one mineral in excess can drive others to deficiency.
What are the odds that a diet low in calcium for months or years and high in magnesium, potassium, sodium and phosphorus will cause calcium deficiency? What are the odds that throwing nicotinic acid in that fire will aggravate symptoms?
When I started low vA, I was told to add lactoferrin into my supplement stack dead last and most carefully. I was told it is the most problematic of all supplements advocated. That it is helpful when it does not stir up too many problems. I did fine with lactoferrin and still occasionally take it. Again, I have zero evidence that lactoferrin has made any difference in my health in last 32 months. Just like nicotinic acid.
Since lactoferrin and nicotinic acid work on same premise and are allegedly so potent, what are the odds they should both be the last items any supplementing persons consider trying? More to the point, since they are endogenously made, what are the odds that any well fed person needs or profits from either? What are the odds that the term well fed is best defined as the prison / cowboy diet? Low toxin? High in proven essential nutrients? High in toxin removing fiber?
I am interested in reading what the Russians have worked out on niacin. The point about various forms of niacin feels understated. Supplementing any nicotinic acid will necessarily increase the other forms that appear to be detrimental. What are the odds that the longer one supplements and the higher the dosage one supplements, the more these bad forms of niacin form?
My experience with Russian science is mostly good. These are the folk who first brought to my eye a number of genius ideas. Whether it is breath work by Dr Buteyko and his students or the daily growing obvious fact of abiotic petroleum and natural gas, Russia science has been far more accurate and honest. Russian friends have cautioned me this last year though. Apparently common folk in Russia are as attacked with pesticides, herbicides and fraudulent virus paradigms as Westerners are. Health is still available to the extreme wealthy.
Hoping to see a contingent of Russians here as I have on other sites soon. Perhaps pubmed searches will provide a more balanced take on nicotinic acid supplements in the future. Meanwhile, evidence for being well fed sans supplements is mounting.
Thank you and please keep on.
Anyone familiar with hyperuricemia?
Is nicotinamide connected? There is research on nicotinamide and Alzheimer’s below. I have found that green tea makes me feel sick (even before the vaccine) although it could be an unrelated compound.
According to Garrett Smith and Kelsey Kenney, nicotinamide is one of the toxic forms of niacin.
Thank you. I remember a story years ago about a man who ruined his liver (and kidneys) by taking excessive amounts of green tea extract
This Dr Joe (only just came across him) also states that niacin can cause liver damage (towards the end of the video)
I cannot find white flour without niacin in the U.K., so may have to give it up for now