Posted on 07/15/2004 9:46:53 PM PDT by FairOpinion
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - High intake of the vitamin niacin, particularly from food sources, may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and age-related mental decline, according to a new report.
The study in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry points out that severe niacin deficiency is known to cause dementia. However, the researchers note that it is unclear if more subtle variations in niacin intake influence the risk of mental deterioration.
"There have been no epidemiologic studies to look at the association between dietary niacin and Alzheimer's disease or cognitive decline," lead author Dr. Martha C. Morris, from the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging in Chicago, told Reuters Health.
Moreover, "animal studies and other studies have really focused on the effects of very high therapeutic dose levels of niacin," not amounts found in a standard diet.
To investigate, the researchers asked several thousand elderly people living in a Chicago community about the types and amounts of food they ate and tested their mental abilities.
The study focused on 815 randomly selected subjects who were free from Alzheimer's disease at the start of the study. After an average of nearly four years, 131 of the participants were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
A high level of total niacin intake seemed to protect against both Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. The association was stronger for niacin intake from foods than for niacin taken in vitamin supplements.
"We were surprised to see a fairly strong association between niacin intake from foods and Alzheimer's disease," Morris said. Compared with the lowest intake, the highest intake "was linked to an 80 percent reduction in risk."
In the overall study population, high niacin intake was also linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline.
Although the finding are provocative, Morris concluded, they will require verification before any changes to current dietary guidelines can be recommended.
SOURCE: the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry; August 2004.
Next story: Researchers discover Alzheimers-jelly bean link.
I'll have to look on-line tomorrow to find out which sources provide niacin. Hope I can remember.
Wouldn't you think they would include a list of the most NIACIN rich foods in the story?
There must be more than come to mind immediately.
Ever taken niacin? I have for my ears ... to increase circulation which I think this is all about. You get very hot and tingly. Weird feeling.
Also, my girlfriend takes it for her multiple sclerosis (sp). Same thing ... circulation.
LOL! I know the feeling.
Would you like a reminder FReepmail? :)
Does it help? I'm asking because I have a friend with MS.
Ha ha! Why sure, thanks!
http://www.brighamandwomens.org/patient/nutritionRich.asp
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Lowers cholesterol, protects against cardiovascular disease and may be of benefit in diabetes.
Low-fat meats, poultry, fish, eggs, cottage cheese, peas, broccoli, mushrooms, tofu, brewer's yeast, potato, peanuts, peanut butter
This is a good link -- it also talks briefly about what the other vitamins do and what foods are rich in the particular vitamins.
Don't know. But I go to the biggest, best and most prestigious ear hospital in the world ... and if they say take niacin to improve circulation I suspect there is something to it. FYI, you do feel weird for a few days. The feeling wears off after awhile until it's not noticable. If you know someone with MS, it's one of the first things to use since you can find it everywhere over the counter.
Vitamin B3 has many effects...only side effects if too heavy a dose as I remember.
I only add nutrients via food. No pills, thank you!
Meat, Eggs etc. Funny, they lower cholesterol and make for clear skin. Everything must be a balancing act.
Niacin is also supposed to lower cholesterol.
Vitamin B3, also called niacin, is needed for the metabolism of food, the maintenance of healthy skin, nerves and the gastrointestinal tract.
Niacin is found in protein-rich foods. The most common protein rich foods are: meats, fish, brewer's yeast, milk, eggs, legumes, potatoes and peanuts.
If too much niacin is consumed, itching, headaches, cramps, nausea and skin eruptions may occur.
Vitamin B3 is also called nicotinic acid and nicotinamide.
Deficiency of Vitamin B3?
A deficiency of niacin causes the disease, pellagra.
Too much Vitamin B3?
More than 100mg of vitamin B3 can cause flushing, tingling, itching, headaches, nausea, diarrhea and ulcers.
Thanks!
Here's another link http://www.wholehealthmd.com/hc/doctortips/0,2316,476_892,00.html
I agree regarding balancing act. But some people have deficencies ... or do not eat enough to get the right nutrients. A small supplement doesn't hurt.
Thank you very much for the information. I'll pass it along to her.
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