The United States and fifty other countries have for decades fortified flour and cereals with niacin (vitamin B3) because of past research showing that B3 helped to prevent disease related to nutritional deficiency. But new research published in Nature Medicine in February 2024 found that about twenty-five per cent of the study’s participants were designated as developing cardiovascular disease caused by consuming higher levels of vitamin B3.

This research is so new that your family physician may not yet have had an opportunity to study the now conflicting positions in the medical community related to how much vitamin B3 would be optimal for you. Before you do consult with your family physician, therefore, you may want to inform yourself about what is currently known about various vitamin B3 levels, determine how much vitamin B3 is in your daily diet, and look at your heart’s health.

ISSUE: What is the relationship of my heart health and the amount of vitamin B3 I consume?

AHHA strives to maintain a neutral position and views knowledge as power. For those interested in this month’s Issue, only a few key articles have been selected that you are encouraged to study the contents of both viewpoints in detail (rather than skimming). You are further encouraged to stay alert for future studies that will hopefully provide broader and deep research into this aspect of maintaining a healthy heart, and perhaps identifying something else that is involved in triggering the vascular inflammation.

New research changing viewpoint of niacin (vitamin B3) level related to heart health
Cleveland Clinic-Led Study Discovers Link between High Levels of Niacin – a Common B Vitamin – and Heart Disease (2/19/24)
Newsroom of Cleveland Clinic
“Cleveland Clinic researchers have identified a new pathway that contributes to cardiovascular disease associated with high levels of niacin, a common B vitamin previously recommended to lower cholesterol…..The main takeaway is not that we should cut out our entire intake of niacin – that’s not a realistic approach,” said Dr. Hazen. ‘Given these findings, a discussion over whether a continued mandate of flour and cereal fortification with niacin in the U.S. could be warranted.’”

A terminal metabolite of niacin promotes vascular inflammation and contributes to cardiovascular disease risk (2/19/24)
by Marc Ferrell, et. all.
Nature Medicine
“Niacin is an essential micronutrient fortified in food staples, but its role in CVD (cardiovascular disease) is not well understood.”

Hesitancy to adopt new B3 level based on one study
B3 in the crosshairs––should you worry? (3/8/24)
by Dr Ronald Hoffman
Intelligent Medicine
“I, for one, am not ready to jettison my use of B-vitamin containing supplements and NAD-supporting nutrients on the sketchy basis of a single study, no matter how much it’s been uncritically amplified by the media.”

You are also encouraged to post your comments.

To review past ISSUES, visit the Special Updates Archives.