Beat the Low Carb Blues; An Overview of the Niacin Implications

For many, low carbohydrate dieting is a serious consideration in the battle of the bulge.  For those seeking to lose those extra pounds, weight loss programs are as varied as the people participating.  As part of a weight loss program, the introduction of Niacin supplements, a B3 vitamin, into your daily nutrition program will improve rate of food digestion and speed the metabolism of carbohydrates. For those dieters on a low carbohydrate diet, the added benefit of the dietary supplement, Niacin, may negate the affects of the “sluggishness” or "blues" associated with the low carbohydrate diet while simultaneously working to improve metabolism and burn off calories.

So what is Niacin?  As water soluble B vitamin, Niacin promotes the increased metabolism of food into energy. Found naturally in dairy, poultry and lean meats, Niacin can also be purchased in sustained release tablet form as a supplement to your standard or low carb diet.  In combination with other B vitamins, Niacin works to release energy from ingested carbohydrates while adding the additional B vitamins the body requires on a daily basis.  Additionally, within the bloodstream, Niacin works to decrease the level of cholesterol and fat in the bloodstream as well. This combination, mixed with a low carbohydrate diet, can lead to significant weight loss.

Dosing of Niacin is recommended in sustained release tablets at least two times a day with some physicians and nutritionists recommending three times daily. Initially, your physician or nutritionist may recommend a gradual intake of Niacin supplements beginning with one tablet daily working through to a three per day regimen. Dosing, in adults, is recommended at 14 to 18 mg per day.  Although, some sustained release tablets are provided in levels as high as 250 mg per tablet; a 1250% level of the recommended daily allowance (RDA).  While not toxic, most physicians and nutritionists will recommend Niacin supplements in levels much lower with a gradual increase to a 250mg tablet.