Posted by Larry Hoover on August 26, 2003, at 6:56:18
In reply to Larry H- and others....No-flush niacin question, posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 25, 2003, at 22:49:30
> A coupla weeks ago, I read with interest, the posts on Niacin (niacinimide/nicotinate?) and mood. I happened to be already taking "no- flush" niacin (actually Inositol Hexanicinate, also described as Inositol Nicotinate on the bottle). Says it delivers 500mg flush free Niacin and 120mg Inositol. Is this form as effective as the ones you were discussing?? If not, which do you recommend?
No, it's not as effective as niacinamide (nicotinamide). And, contrary to what btnd posted, they're not the same thing, either.
Inositol is a hexose sugar. It has six positions where it can form an ester with an organic acid. Nicotinic acid (niacin) can form such esters, and when the molecule has those six esters (forming inositol hexanicotinate), it's really quite bulky. Ordinarily, esters are broken down in the stomach, but I'd have to presume that the simple fact this one is so bulky slows that process down considerably (what is known as steric hindrance), and you get a slow trickle of nicotinic acid, rather than the flush-inducing effect of nicotinic acid in its free form.
A slightly different form of B3 is niacinamide. It binds to the same receptor complex as do benzos, and has some anxiolytic activity. It binds at a different place on the receptor than do benzos, so it doesn't interfere with that activity. Most people find that niacinamide and benzos complement each other's effects. You can take up to 500 mg niacinamide, four times a day.
Both nicotinic acid and niacinamide can be converted to the molecule NADH. It is a key component of the cellular energy production in mitochondria. I have found that using an NADH supplement (Enada NADH) has substantially improved my level of functioning. The dose must be carefully adjusted, as too much can lead to irritability and insomnia.
> And with what other supplements for maximum effect? ( other B's I take are B complex 100 and 100mg of B6 (p5p.co-enzyme version). I have Gen. anxiety disorder that developed into depression, but dropped my AD's 2 months ago. I seem to only have the anxiety left now, although I do get "low/lethargic" every now and then. Just started Klonipin for the anxiety, which works well. Just looking for something to lift my mood/energy be a bit more activating, but would like to do it with supplements. (I already take omega 3 & 6 efa's - fish oils, CLA, GLA (Primrose Oil), Alpha lipoic acid, C, E, DMAE, Gingko,and carnitine & glutamine for workouts. Oh yeah, calcium & magnesium!!!!!
You should eliminate any omega-6 fatty acids from your diet and supplementation, wherever you can do so. Omega-6 fatty acids counteract the benefits of omega-3's, and most people are getting 10 times too much omega-6 to begin with. Omega-6 fatty acids *are* essential (your body can't synthesize them), but the use of vegetable oils has become so ubiquitous that no one needs to supplement them, except those with extremely rare metabolic disorders.
I don't see any mention of the minerals zinc and selenium. More than half of all Americans are deficient in zinc. I'd recommeng 30 or 40 mg/day. Selenium status is a little more at issue (experts haven't decided what is optimal, let alone what is safe), but I'd suggest 200 mcg (micrograms)/day.
If you don't want to supplement selenium for the neuroprotective or mood effects, do it for the cancer-prevention ones....
Anticarcinogenic effects of selenium. Schrauzer GN in Cell Mol Life Sci 2000 Dec;57(13-14):1864-73 PMID: 11215513
"Selenium (Se) exerts its anticarcinogenic effects by multiple mechanisms. For maximal utilization of its cancer-protective potential, Se supplementation should start early in life and be maintained over the entire lifespan."Chemopreventive agents: selenium. Combs GF Jr, Gray WP in Pharmacol Ther 1998 Sep;79(3):179-92 PMID: 2526614
"The antitumorigenic activities have been associated with Se intakes that correct nutritionally deficient status in animals, as well as higher intakes that are substantially greater than those associated with maximal expression of the selenocysteine-containing enzymes. Therefore, it is proposed that while some cancer protection, particularly that involving antioxidant protection, involves selenoenzymes, specific Se metabolites, which are produced in significant amounts at relatively high Se intakes, also discharge antitumorigenic functions. According to this two-stage model of the roles of Se in cancer prevention, individuals with nutritionally adequate Se intakes may benefit from Se supplementation."> Love to have your opinion. Thanks.
Thanks for recognizing that all my thoughts should be considered to be opinion.
Best,
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:254125
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/254255.html