American researchers have identified a new pathway that contributes to cardiovascular pathologies associated with high levels of niacin.
- A study by Cleveland Clinic scientists reveals a link between high levels of vitamin B3, also known as niacin, and heart disease.
- Excess niacin increases levels of a metabolite called “4PY,” which directly triggers vascular inflammation.
- Thus, this metabolite promotes the development of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events.
Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, is very common in Western diets. “For decades, the United States and more than 50 countries have mandated niacin fortification of staple foods, such as flour, grains and oats, to prevent diseases linked to nutritional deficiencies,” has indicated Stanley Hazen, professor at the Cleveland Clinic, an American academic medical center. Problem: overconsumption of niacin is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
Stroke, heart attack: high levels of 4PY caused by excess vitamin B3 increase the risk
To reach this conclusion, American researchers carried out a study published in the journal Nature Medicine. As part of the work, they recruited 1,162 patients with heart problems, including 422 women. The team did a non-targeted metabolomic analysis of their fasting plasma. The latter revealed that niacin metabolism was associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. “Serum levels of the metabolites of excess niacin, N1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2PY) and N1-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide (4PY), have been associated with increased risk of heart disease during three-year follow-up”, can we read in the research.
In detail, the results showed that excess niacin increased circulating levels of the metabolite 4PY, which promotes the development of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events. According to the authors, the 4PY metabolite directly triggers vascular inflammation that damages blood vessels and can lead to atherosclerosis over time. “This information opens the way to developing new approaches to counteract the effects of this pathway”said Stanley Hazen.
Consume fruits and vegetables rather than niacin-based food supplements
The professor noted that the wider use of dietary supplements based on different over-the-counter forms of niacin has also become popular due to its purported anti-aging benefits. According to him, patients should consult their doctor before taking these products and focus on a diet rich in fruits and vegetables while avoiding excess carbohydrates. Scientists believe that long-term research is needed to assess the effect of chronically elevated 4PY levels on atherosclerosis.
