Niacin Supreme combines no-flush niacin (inositol hexanicotinate) with key B vitamins and chromium for cholesterol and triglyceride lowering. Research suggests that one should not take niacin without folic acid, B6 and B12, thus these additional vitamins have been included in the formula. Niacin alone raises homocysteine, but with these other B vitamins, this is unlikely to occur. Chromium helps to potentiate many of niacin's beneficial effects. This form of Niacin is recommended for those who need larger amounts since it is safe and does not cause flushing.

Serving Size:  2 capsules
Product Contains:

Read Customer questions and answers about Other Health Concerns in our FAQ.

• High LDL Cholesterol
• Low LDL Cholesterol
• High Triglycerides
• Heart Health
• Anxiety
• Schizophrenia
• Circulation Problems
• Intermittent Claudication

Research Review

Inositol Hexanicotinate (IHN) is a special form of slow released Niacin. The IHN structure (see figure to the left) can be described as six molecules of Niacin bound to a central molecule of Inositol.

IHN is absorbed intact in the intestinal tract, and hydrolyzed in the body with a slow release of free Niacin and Inositol.(1) The release of IHN components occurs slowly, and reaches peak serum levels approximately 10 hrs. after ingestion.(2)

IHN should be taken two or three times per day to maintain therapeutic plasma levels of Niacin. Every 1000 mg of Niacin in IHN, is bound to approximately 170 mg of Inositol.

Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3, is an essential cofactor in many metabolic pathways in the body, due to its role in the coenzymes NAD (nicotine-adenine dinucleotide) and NADP (nicotine-adenine dinucleotide phosphate) and in the oxidation-reduction reactions in the mitochondria.

Inositol, an intracellular second messenger, was shown to reduce insulin resistance and alleviate PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) when supplemented at a level as low as 100 mg twice daily.(17)

Plain Niacin has been used extensively for reducing cholesterol and triglycerides but side effects were frequently reported, such as: flushing, pruritis, and GI complaints, hepatotoxicity, increased uric acid or homocysteine, and impaired glucose tolerance. On the other hand, no adverse effects have been reported from the use of IHN in dosages as high as four grams daily(4, 6, 8, 9), while achieving benefits similar to that of plain niacin.

1. High cholesterol, high triglycerides, low HDL: Lipid-normalizing effects of IHN were observed at doses of 400 mg 3-4 times daily6 and IHN was more effective than niacin in its hypocholesterolemic, antihypertensive and lipotropic effects in one study.(2)
2. High Lp(a): 1 g twice daily of plain niacin reduced Lp(a) by 36%.(14)

• Decrease in free fatty acid mobilization, thus resulting in reduced triglyceride synthesis
• Inhibition of cholesterol and VLDL synthesis in the liver, resulting in a decrease in LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels
• An increase in HDL levels by decreasing its catabolism(3)
• Lowering of Lp(a) by decreasing its synthesis(14)

3. High blood pressure: A single dose of 200 mg of IHN reduced blood pressure 10-45 mmHg (an average of 30 mmHg) for an average of 12 hours.(2)
4. Intermittent Claudication: The use of IHN in the treatment of intermittent claudication that occurs as a result of atherosclerosis has been found effective at dosages of 2 grams twice daily sustained for at least 3 months.(10-13)
5. Peripheral Vascular Diseases: IHN is beneficial in the treatment of conditions resulting from peripheral vascular insufficiency, including threatened amputation from gangrene, restless legs syndrome, stasis dermatitis, atherosclerosis-related migraines.(2)
6. Raynaud's Disease (very cold extremities due to poor circulation): Benefits are seen with one gram of IHN four times per day for several months.(2, 4, 5, 7, 9)

• transient vasodilation(4)
• lipid-lowering(3)
• reduced blood viscosity due to improved fibrinolysis(4, 5)
• improved oxygen transport(11)

Warning: Use of IHN in patients with known liver disease should probably be avoided, even though no adverse reactions have been reported. In addition, if high doses (2 grams or greater daily) are being administered, liver enzymes should be monitored every 2-3 months for at least the first six months. Also, due to its fibrinolytic effect it should be used with caution in conjunction with other blood thinners. Taking Niacin alone can raise homocysteine. Niacin formulas should contain adequate B6, B12 and folic acid(15) to prevent this, as seen in Designs for Health Niacin Supreme, which also adds chromium to control insulin.(16)

1. Harthon L, Brattsand R. Enzymatic hydrolysis of pentaerythritoltetranicotinate and meso-inositolhexanicotinate in blood and tissues. Arzneim-Forsch 1979;29:1859-1862.
2. Welsh AL, Eade M. Inositol hexanicotinate for improved nicotinic acid therapy. Int Record Med 1961;174:9-15.
3. El-Enein AMA, Hafez YS, Salem H, Abdel M. The role of nicotinic acid and inositol hexaniacinate as anticholesterolemic and antilipemic agents. Nutr Reports Int 1983;28:899-911.
4. Holti G. An experimentally controlled evaluation of the effect of inositol nicotinate upon the digital blood flow in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. J Int Med Res 1979;7:473-483.
5. Aylward M. Hexopal in Raynaud's disease. J Int Med Res 1979;7:484-491.
6. Dorner V, Fischer FW. The influence of m-inositol hexanicotinate ester on the serum lipids and lipoproteins. Arzneim-Forsch 1961;11:110-113.
7. Ring EF, Bacon PA. Quantitative thermographic assessment of inositol nicotinate therapy in Raynaud's phenomena. J Int Med Res 1977;5:217-222.
8. Ring EFJ, Porto LO, Bacon PA. Quantitative thermal imaging to assess inositol nicotinate treatment for Raynaud's syndrome. J Int Med Res 1981;9:393-400.
9. Sunderland GT, Belch JJF, Sturrock RD, et al. A double blind randomized placebo controlled trial of Hexopal in primary Raynaud's disease. Clin Rheum 1988;7:46-49.
10. O'Hara J. A double-blind placebo-controlled study of Hexopal in the treatment of intermittent claudication. J Int Med Res 1985;13:322-327.
11. O'Hara J, Jolly PN, Nicol CG. The therapeutic efficacy of inositol nicotinate (Hexopal) in intermittent claudication: a controlled trial. Br J Clin Practice 1988;42:377-383.
12. Tyson VCH. Treatment of intermittent claudication. Practitioner 1979;223:121-126.
13. Seckfort H. Treating circulatory problems with inositol nicotinic acid ester. Med Klin 1959;10:416-418.
14. Seed M, O'Connor B .The effect of nicotinic acid and acipimox on lipoprotein(a) concentration and turnover. Atherosclerosis. 1993 Jun;101(1):61-8.
15. Desouza C, Keebler M . Drugs affecting homocysteine metabolism: impact on cardiovascular risk. Drugs. 2002;62(4):605-16
16. Mertz W. Chromium in human nutrition: a review. J Nutr. 1993 Apr;123(4):626-33.
17. Gerli S, Mignosa . Effects of inositol on ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS: a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2003 Nov-Dec;7(6):151-9.