The results reveal a previously unknown cause of heart disease, said Dr. Stanley Hazen, director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Microbiome and Human Health and lead author of the study. Therefore, it is important.

“What is interesting about these results is that this pathway, previously unrecognized, appears to contribute significantly to the development of cardiovascular disease,” Professor Hazen said in a statement.

“Furthermore, being able to measure it means there is potential for diagnostic tests,” he added. “These insights set the stage for developing new approaches to counteract the effects of this pathway.”

The study included a “discovery cohort” of 1,162 stable cardiac patients and a paired validation cohort of a total of 2,331 patients, and also further investigated the cardiac effects of 4PY in mice.

Niacin, also known as vitamin B-3, is very common in the Western diet. In fact, since the 1940s, more than 50 countries have mandated that staple foods like flour, cereals, and oats be fortified with niacin to prevent diseases related to nutritional deficiencies.

Prescribed for many years as a way to combat high cholesterol, over-the-counter nutritional supplements containing this vitamin have emerged as popular products to combat the aging process.

However, new research shows that too much niacin can cause inflammation of blood vessels, which is strongly associated with heart disease. Researchers found that one in four subjects in the researchers’ patient cohort appeared to be taking too much niacin, causing a “ripple effect” that triggered the body’s production of harmful 4PY metabolites. discovered.

The results suggest that adequate levels of niacin remain essential for human health, but question whether continuing mandates to fortify flour and grains with niacin in the United States are justified. We need to have that discussion,” Hazen said.

He also suggested that supplements containing niacin should not be taken without prior consultation with a doctor and should instead be replaced with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.