What is the best niacin product to buy?

I currently have the niacin from Trader Joes and it is time released yet, it still makes me very red and sometimes hot and itchy so which product would you say works well without the side effects? Thanks

Time release niacin is the best. Start with 500mg and build up the dose slowly. Drinking water thru the day will also help flush your system. Normally, no one should exceed 500mg unless under the care of a physician.

your reaction is normal. take it at night only, increase your water intake, and advise your doctor of the reaction.

sounds like you are simply taking tooo much. the "niacin flush" occurs as a natural reaction when the body is saturated with sufficient niacin. i suggest reducing the dose, take half a tab, or find a product with less mg. it probably doesn't make any difference which brand you choose, they are made by a few labs and marketed with different labels. don't waste your time shopping around, just find the correct dosage for you. have you noticed a pleasant feeling of well-being after the flush wears off?

Try Inositol Nicotinate. This is often called "no flush niacin".

Generally, high doses of Niacin or Inositol Nicotinate should only be used under knowledgeable medical supervision. There are many contraindications for the use of these supplements in high doses, and periodic laboratory testing may be appropriate.

Best wishes and good luck.

Here is the scoop on niacin. Timed release is liver toxic and should be avoided. The no flush stuff will not cause a flushing but it also does not work. I take niacin for the heart healthy aspect and blood lipid lowering of ldl and raising of hdl. I take the straight stuff from Walgreens, 3.00 a bottle of 100 tabs. You must work up to not flushing or GI upset. You can also take an asprin 30 minutes prior to taking niacin and that will greatly reduce the flushing. I can take 500mg at a time with minimal flush or no flush but that takes time. If you want to take higher doses you must make sure you do not have any liver disease, check with your doctor.

Well, I've read what others have said here, and there is some sound advice. I would like to point out, however, if you are trying to lower cholesterol levels in the blood, then you'll have to have a dietary change that may or may not be difficult for you, depending upon your degree of commitment.

I began the Macrobiotic Diet because I wasn't feeling well, my cholesterol levels were very high (285). After 4 months of following the very strict diet, my blood cholesterol levels have dropped to 135. I do moderate exercise, (walking at a leisurely pace for 30 - 40 minutes a day), and I eat NO meat, NO dairy, and I do eat whole grains and vegetables, fruits occasionally and nuts and seeds as well as cooking with high quality fats like sesame oil. My health has improved dramatically and I don't take anything for high cholesterol. I was taking Lipitor at the beginning, and I no longer have to take it. I stopped taking it after 3 months because my cholesterol dropped so dramatically that my Endocrinologist didn't feel that it was necessary.

Each person and their dietary needs are unique. You may have as quick a response to the diet as I did, or you may take a little longer. One thing is for certain, your body will respond immediately and dramatically to the healthy changes that you adopt in your quest for health. There are a couple of books that I would recommend for you to read that could help in this matter. Both are very interesting and well-written books that are highly informative about the American diet and how it's killing us. I'll include them in my sources below. Just know that there is also a less strict diet in The China Study that is just as effective as the Macrobiotic one. Both are good and lower cholesterol levels in the blood. The China Study is an amazing book that includes pictures that tell the entire story.

Whatever your decision, I wish you the best of luck. Niacin can be dangerous taken out of its original form, (food source), so please be cautious with it. The Macrobiotic Diet gives you plenty of vitamins and minerals, including Niacin in its natural state, that will help to make you heart healthy and lower your cholesterol levels naturally and comfortably.

I hope this helps you in the long run. That you purchase foods from Trader Joe's tells me that you're looking to be healthy, not just looking for a "miracle pill" that will make you all better. Good luck my friend and I wish you health!