Niacin and liver damage

[Glennh]

Is niacin good or bad for hepatitus c (with a small amount of chirrosis?
I get completely different answers when Surf the net

[copyman]

I only had stage 1 fibrosis and elected not to take Niaspan (prescription Niacin). I was going to take this to lower my cholesterol but changed my mind at last minute.
Most lipid meds are bad for the liver.

[Dannyboi7]

  From everything I've read,whether you have Hep C or not if you take more than the daily  upper limit required it can damage your liver.If you're thinking of taking a Super B Complex supplement make sure you check out the amount of B3 it contains.If you eat a healthy diet with a lot of veggies than you really don't need a B3 supplement.As you would know always check with your specialist first before taking any supplements.

[HectorSF]

If you have stage 4 liver disease (cirrhosis) you should consult with your hepatologist regarding any changes to diet and and any over-the-counter drugs, vitamins or herbs before taking them. Many can be toxic to a cirrhotic liver an increase liver damage and in some individuals cause decompensation and liver failure depending on a patient's liver disease and the amount of the toxin.

Only your own hepatologist knows the true state of your liver disease and determine what is permissible and not for you. We are all individuals. What may be appropriate for one person may not be for another.

NYU Langone Medical Center

http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=38611

"All forms of vitamin B3 , including niacin, niacinamide (nicotinamide), and inositol hexaniacinate, may damage the liver when taken in high doses. (Again, nutritional supplementation at the standard daily requirement level should not cause a problem.)"

Call you doctor before changing you ingest. Most substances are processed in the liver.

Good luck!
Hector