New research suggests that overconsumption of the essential B vitamin niacin may contribute to cardiovascular disease.

This research recently natural medicinea strong association was found between high levels of the vitamin and the risk of developing a heart attack, stroke, or other dangerous cardiac event.

Researchers also found that excess niacin causes blood vessel inflammation that thickens blood vessel walls, which can directly impact cardiovascular health. This thickening can restrict blood flow and damage tissues and organs, including the heart.

Niacin (vitamin B3) is found in many foods, from meat and fish to bananas and fortified bread. Most people in the United States do not need to take niacin supplements because they get enough from their diet.

Still, about 1 in 4 Americans have low levels of niacin in their bodies, according to lead author Stanley Hazen, M.D., director of cardiovascular and metabolic sciences and co-chair of the prevention division at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Institute. exceeds the recommended level. Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute.

The researchers hope this study will prompt a debate about whether niacin should be eliminated from certain fortified foods such as flour and cereals.

“The important point is not that you should completely stop taking niacin; that’s not a realistic and healthy approach. Niacin is a vitamin and essential to our health,” Hazen said. Ta. health. “However, excessive amounts seem to be a concern.”

Researchers wanted to look for markers in the blood that could reveal new risk factors for cardiovascular disease. To do this, they analyzed fasting blood samples from 1,162 patients who visited a cardiology center to be evaluated for heart disease.

They found that some of the blood samples showed 4PY, a substance that is only produced when there is excess niacin.

With this in mind, researchers conducted two “validation” studies examining data from 3,163 adults with or suspected of having heart disease in the United States and Europe. They found that people with 4PY in their blood were more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or other harmful cardiac event.

Based on these findings, the scientists injected mice with 4PY and found that it increased inflammation in the rodents’ blood vessels.

“Mechanistic studies show that 4PY is associated with vascular inflammation and directly promotes cardiovascular disease-related phenotypes in animal models and cell culture,” Hazen said. “These findings provide the basis for potential new interventions and treatments to reduce or prevent vascular inflammation, a precursor and contributor to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”

The study may also help explain previous research showing that people with high cholesterol who took niacin supplements, which have been shown to lower cholesterol levels, continued to suffer from stroke and heart disease.

Niacin is a nutrient that our bodies need to function. It plays an important role in converting food into energy, supporting the nervous system, and may also promote skin health.

People must ingest niacin because the body does not produce it. According to the National Institutes of Health, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 16 milligrams (mg) per day for men and 14 mg per day for women. For pregnant or breastfeeding women, the RDA is slightly higher.

Fortunately, niacin is found naturally in foods such as nuts, seeds, and whole grains. It is also added to products such as flour and cereals, and food manufacturers began adding it after scientists discovered in 1937 that niacin deficiency caused pellagra, a fatal form of malnutrition.

“For decades, the United States and more than 50 countries have required staple foods like flour, cereals and oats to be fortified with niacin to prevent diseases related to nutritional deficiencies,” Hazen said. Ta. “This has tremendous health benefits in terms of alleviating these nutritional deficiencies. For example, pellagra is virtually no longer present in the United States.”

However, researchers believe it is time for the U.S. to reconsider its policy on adding niacin to food in light of this study.

And when it comes to taking niacin supplements, Hazen recommends talking to your doctor. Not only does most people not need niacin, studies have shown that taking too much niacin can even cause cardiovascular problems.