Articles
Niacin to boost your HDL, 'good,' cholesterol
Content
What is niacin?
What impact does niacin have on cholesterol?
What else can be done to increase HDL?
What side effects are associated with taking high doses of niacin?
Who might consider taking niacin?
What impact does niacin have on cholesterol?
Niacin can raise HDL cholesterol by more than 30 percent. There's currently some debate about the exact role HDL plays in the body and in the development of heart disease. But HDL has generally been thought to pick up excess "bad" cholesterol in your blood and take it to your liver for disposal, which is why HDL is dubbed the "good" cholesterol.
Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L):
- For men, HDL levels under 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) increase the risk of heart disease.
- For women, HDL levels under 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) increase the risk of heart disease.
Despite niacin's ability to raise HDL, recent research suggests that niacin therapy isn't linked to lower rates of death, heart attack or stroke.
