The original cholesterol vitamin. Raises HDL beautifully, improves outcomes not at all — two giant trials killed the lipid theory.
Essential vitamin, failed cardiovascular drug. Take it for B3 needs; the longevity and lipid claims belong to a previous era.
Niacin (Niacin (Nicotinic Acid, Vitamin B3)) is a foundational with evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. We track 2 products containing Niacin. Typical doses range from 28 to 500 mg per serving. The top-ranked product scores 6.2 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $109.95 per month.
| Product | Brand | Dose | Price/mo | 3rd-party tested | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MitoQ NAD+ Dual Action | MitoQ | 500 mg | $53.99 | No | 6.2 |
| Longevity | Momentous | 28 mg | $109.95 | Yes | 6.2 |
Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard. See how we score.
Vitamin B3 in its flushing form. Your body uses it to build NAD, the molecule at the center of energy metabolism. In high doses it was once a mainstream cholesterol drug.
Niacin moves cholesterol numbers impressively: LDL down, HDL up 20-30%. But when two massive trials (AIM-HIGH, HPS2-THRIVE) tested whether that actually prevented heart attacks on top of statins, the answer was no — and HPS2-THRIVE found more side effects, including infections and bleeding.
Essential vitamin, failed cardiovascular drug. Take it for B3 needs; the longevity and lipid claims belong to a previous era.
Nicotinic acid, precursor of NAD via the Preiss-Handler pathway. At gram doses, agonist at GPR109A (flush) and modulator of hepatic lipid handling.
AIM-HIGH 2011 (NEJM, n=3414): extended-release niacin added to statins raised HDL but showed no clinical benefit; trial stopped early. HPS2-THRIVE 2014 (NEJM, n=25,673): niacin/laropiprant on top of statins did not reduce major vascular events and significantly increased serious adverse events (infections, bleeding, glucose disturbance). NAD precursor role now dominated by NR/NMN research.
20-45 minutes immediate-release; NAD effects sustained longer.
Gram doses cause flushing, liver stress, and glucose elevation. Nicotinamide does not flush but does not move lipids either. High doses are a drug — treat them that way.
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regulatory events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Niacin, most recent first. Studies link to the paper; regulatory entries name and link the responsible authority.
RCT (n=3414): niacin on top of statins raised HDL 20% but produced no reduction in cardiovascular events; stopped early for futility.
Read study →RCT (n=25,673): niacin/laropiprant failed to reduce major vascular events and significantly increased serious side effects including infections and bleeding.
Read study →All products in our catalog that contain Niacin, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
MitoQMulti-ingredient bundle
Status as recorded in the catalog from brand materials; not independently verified by NO1GEVITY.
Editorial score, not proof that this product works. Research-dose calculations are not dosing advice.
MomentousMulti-ingredient bundle
Status as recorded in the catalog from brand materials; not independently verified by NO1GEVITY.
Editorial score, not proof that this product works. Research-dose calculations are not dosing advice.
Molecules in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Niacin in our catalogue.
See Niacin in context: the mechanism it acts through, the biomarker it moves, the products that dose it, and the trials that tested it.
View Niacin on the Longevity Map →Vitamin B3 in its flushing form. Your body uses it to build NAD, the molecule at the center of energy metabolism. In high doses it was once a mainstream cholesterol drug.
The trial dose in published human studies is 500 mg per day, with a range of 50 to 1000 mg per day. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Gram doses cause flushing, liver stress, and glucose elevation. Nicotinamide does not flush but does not move lipids either. High doses are a drug — treat them that way.
We track 2 products containing Niacin. The top-ranked product scores 6.2 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
Niacin has evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Evidence grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new products are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.