Niacin · Niacin (Nicotinic Acid, Vitamin B3)
The original cholesterol vitamin. Raises HDL beautifully, improves outcomes not at all — two giant trials killed the lipid theory.
Short answer
Niacin (Niacin (Nicotinic Acid, Vitamin B3)) is a foundational with evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. We track 0 produkter containing Niacin. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $0.00 per månad.
What it is
Vitamin B3 in its flushing form. Your body uses it to build NAD, the molecule at the center of energy metabolism. In high doses it was once a mainstream cholesterol drug.
Why people take it
Niacin moves cholesterol numbers impressively: LDL down, HDL up 20-30%. But when two massive trials (AIM-HIGH, HPS2-THRIVE) tested whether that actually prevented heart attacks on top of statins, the answer was no — and HPS2-THRIVE found more side effects, including infections and bleeding.
Our verdict
Essential vitamin, failed cardiovascular drug. Take it for B3 needs; the longevity and lipid claims belong to a previous era.
Structure & class
Nicotinic acid, precursor of NAD via the Preiss-Handler pathway. At gram doses, agonist at GPR109A (flush) and modulator of hepatic lipid handling.
Mechanism & clinical data
AIM-HIGH 2011 (NEJM, n=3414): extended-release niacin added to statins raised HDL but showed no clinical benefit; trial stopped early. HPS2-THRIVE 2014 (NEJM, n=25,673): niacin/laropiprant on top of statins did not reduce major vascular events and significantly increased serious adverse events (infections, bleeding, glucose disturbance). NAD precursor role now dominated by NR/NMN research.
Pharmacokinetics
20-45 minutes immediate-release; NAD effects sustained longer.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
Gram doses cause flushing, liver stress, and glucose elevation. Nicotinamide does not flush but does not move lipids either. High doses are a drug — treat them that way.
Where this dose comes from
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regelverk status
Timeline
Regelverk events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Niacin, most recent first. Every entry links to its primär source.
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EU Court sharpens the bar for botanical health claimsA Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in april 2025 further tightened the requirements for how botanical ingredients (herbs, plant extracts) can be marketed with health claims in the EU, effectively removing much of the flexibility of the on-hold list.
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EU report identifies 117 supplement substances as potential health risksThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements (26 European countries) published its first report evaluating 117 substances used in food supplements. Of these, 65 were assessed as likely novel foods, 6 were already regulated, 34 had insufficient data, and 12 were prioritized for Article 8 restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The 12 priority substances include ashwagandha, curcumin, melatonin, piperine, St. John's wort, coumarin, p-synephrine, maca, holy basil, Melaleuca, black cohosh, and L-tryptophan. The report drew on 1,500 RASFF alerts reviewed between 2017 and mid-2022.
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HPS2-THRIVE 2014 (NEJM)RCT (n=25,673): niacin/laropiprant failed to reduce major vascular events and significantly increased serious side effects including infections and bleeding.
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AIM-HIGH 2011 (NEJM)RCT (n=3414): niacin on top of statins raised HDL 20% but produced no reduction in cardiovascular events; stopped early for futility.
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EU Health Claims Regulation adoptedRegulation (EC) No 1924/2006 laid down harmonised rules for nutrition and health claims made on foods, including supplements. Only claims listed in the EU Register of authorised claims can be used. Rejected botanical claims are held in a separate on-hold list.
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EU introduces the Novel Food RegulationRegulation (EC) No 258/97 required any food or food ingredient without a history of consumption in the EU before 15 maj 1997 to be authorised before being placed on the market. This is the framework that captures NMN, spermidine as a supplement ingredient, urolithin A, and many other longevity actives.
Landmark studies
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AIM-HIGH 2011 (NEJM)
RCT (n=3414): niacin on top of statins raised HDL 20% but produced no reduction in cardiovascular events; stopped early for futility.
Läs studie → -
HPS2-THRIVE 2014 (NEJM)
RCT (n=25,673): niacin/laropiprant failed to reduce major vascular events and significantly increased serious side effects including infections and bleeding.
Läs studie →
Found in these produkter
Alla produkter in our catalog that contain Niacin, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
No produkter in our catalog contain this yet.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
Se alla in Foundational →Molekyler in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Niacin in our catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
What is Niacin?
Vitamin B3 in its flushing form. Your body uses it to build NAD, the molecule at the center of energy metabolism. In high doses it was once a mainstream cholesterol drug.
What dose of Niacin should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 500 mg per dag, with a range of 50 to 1000 mg per dag. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Niacin safe?
Gram doses cause flushing, liver stress, and glucose elevation. Nicotinamide does not flush but does not move lipids either. High doses are a drug — treat them that way.
What is the best Niacin supplement?
We track 0 produkter containing Niacin. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
What is the evidence grade for Niacin?
Niacin has evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Data verification
Bevisning grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new produkter are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.