Question:
Does niacin lower my risk of having a heart attack?
Answer:
No
MedHead Confidence Score: 9
Amount Saved: $40 per month cost of Niacin ER
MedHead Message:
Old habits die hard. Not to many years ago, niacin was in all the news. And the extra “flush” meant it must be doing something, right? This major meta analysis of over 39,000 people showed that niacin not only didn’t reduce mortality, it didn’t even reduce heart attack or strokes, whether used with or without statin cholesterol medications. Well that bubble has been burst, sorry. But that’s how it goes in healthcare. Here today, gone tomorrow. Instead, use the extra $40 per month to have a foot massage down at your local massage place. Oh, yeah. Feeling good already.
References:
1. Schandelmaier S, Briel M, Saccilotto R, Olu KK, Arpagaus A, Hemkens LG, Nordmann AJ. Niacin for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD009744. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009744.pub2.
