Niaspan is an oral version of Niacin aimed at reducing the risk involved in taking high doses of Niacin to lower cholesterol.

Niacin or Nicotinic acid is a known form of Vitamin B3, existing in plants and animals in a natural way. Niacin in high doses can help to significantly lower overall cholesterol, reduce LDL cholesterol levels, decrease triglyceride levels and raise HDL cholesterol levels. However, the lowering of trilyceride production in the liver that leads to then the lowering of the bad cholesterol and raising of the good HDL cholesterol, does not come without side effects and must be consumed and monitored carefully.

A professional health care provider should monitor Normal Niacin intake, even though Niacin is an over the counter supplement, especially if you take other medications to lower cholesterol such as Lipiotor or Crestor and lowering blood pressure medications. Taking Niacin in high doses can result in a major imbalance in Vitamin B, leading to serious side effects such as high sugar levels and liver damage. Luckily, the formula in Niaspan, in which the active ingredient is Niacin, minimizes the risk of suffering from these side effects.

There are several less dangerous side effects that may occur while taking Niacin or Niaspan, the oral form of Niacin, in high doses. Some of them are: bloating, diarrhea, nausea, itching and sudden face flushing. To reduce the severity of these symptoms, the treatment with Niaspan should start slowly with the intake of low doses and gradually increased.

Natural foods low in cholesterol but rich in Vitamin B complex, can make the same positive impact on your cholesterol levels, while eliminating the side effects associated with the intake of Niaspan.