Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Monday, September 28, 2009 Jon in TX asks

Q: Does niacin interfere with/slow one's weight loss while attempting to lose weight through dieting?

I have read that niacin works by blocking the breakdown of lipids in adipose tissue.  That leads to this important question:

 

Does niacin interfere with, or slow one's weight loss while attempting to lose weight through dieting?

 

I have low HDL and am overweight.  Should I postpone the niacin while dieting, and start the niacin after successful weight loss?  Or, is it ok to start niacin while dieting? (with no risk of the niacin messing up my dieting results.)

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Answers (2)
9/28/09 4:23pm

Hi Jon in TX,

 

No, niacin should not adversely impact your weight loss efforts.  Follow your physician's recommendations for niacin use and continue to work towards your weight loss goals.

 

All the best,

Lisa Nelson RD

How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps

 

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1/27/10 12:11am

I have been wondering exactly the same thing. Niacin in small dose has been used to promote weight loss, I think by improving the breakdown of carbs. But if it also blocks the breakdown of fats in adipose tissue, that could be bad news. I'd love to see scientific or perhaps anecdotal evidence to answer this.

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