Niacin is a B vitamin.  Like many of the B vitamin group, there are many benefits claimed, and many niacin benefits are under investigation.  Some of the claimed niacin benefits are as a cholesterol medication.  Studies have proved conclusively that niacin is one of the best medications that can be used to increase the good cholesterols or HDL's in the blood.  This niacin benefits are usually a 15-35 percent increase in HDLs.  Another niacin benefit is the reduction of LDLs, or bad cholesterol, usually by a more modest but still impressive 5-25 percent.  Another niacin benefit is the slowing down of plaque buildup on arterial walls.  The studies establishing this benefit used niacin in addition to a second type of cholesterol medication and it is not clear if niacin alone will produce this benefit.

The third established niacin benefit is in heart attack prevention.  The administration of niacin can help to reduce the risk of a second heart attack in people who have high cholesterol and who have already had one heart attack.  However, whether or not niacin can reduce the risk of an initial heart attack is not yet clear.  However, it is conjectured that another niacin benefit is the slow reversal of plaque within the arteries, which if true would certainly support a reduction in the risk factors for an initial heart attack.

Yet another niacin benefit is in the treatment of pellagra, a disease that was common at one time in the poorer southern states of the United States.  This disease was characterized by the “three d's” of diarrhea, dementia, and dermatitis, and was at one time called ”Asturian Leprosy” because it was first diagnosed in Spain.

There are many other claimed niacin benefits.  Most of these have claimed niacin benefits have either not been investigated using clinical trials or have not been proven.  Some, like the treatment of PAD, or peripheral artery disease, could be used in conjunction with other therapies to improve the treatment of a potentially life-threatening disease.  Other claimed benefits of using niacin, like the ability to promote relaxation, are somewhat on the frivolous side.  Still other benefits that are claimed for niacin is the ability to prevent the development of type 1 diabetes in susceptible children and to preserve  the function of some of the insulin producing cells in people with type 2 diabetes or early type 1 diabetes.  These last benefits are not frivolous at all, and would in fact be wonderful news for millions if proven.