This Vitamin May Influence Your Blood Flow and Blood Vessels—Here’s What Science Says

determine whether supplementation is necessary and whether monitoring of liver function, glucose, uric acid, or other parameters is appropriate.

Final Thoughts

Niacin is an essential vitamin with important roles in energy metabolism and cellular function. Nicotinic acid can also cause temporary blood-vessel dilation and, at pharmacological doses, can substantially affect blood lipid levels.

Those properties have sometimes been transformed into the much broader claim that vitamin B3 “opens blood vessels” and prevents circulation problems after age 50.

The evidence does not support such a simple conclusion.

Niacin does not replace evaluation or treatment for peripheral artery disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, venous