Lets Fight Depression

Lately, there has been a large buzz on the internet revolving around the power of niacin to cure depression. A few studies have shown that people with depression were able to be cured by taking huge doses that are considered toxic by the general medical community. The main argument here is that the pharmaceutical companies are trying to hide this cure from the public. This article will help you learn more about niacin.

Kris thinks that there may be some type of very minor truth in the niacin treating depression debate. However, he never recommends that you use this as an exclusive treatment option. In addition, he would be shocked if 5% of what he has heard about niacin treating depression is true. So make sure that you never take a niacin treatment beyond a possible deficiency.

What is Niacin?

Vitamin B3 has many names including Triptophin, vitamin PP, and niacin. Niacin makes the adrenal gland produce steroids, repairs DNA and is responsible for making serotonin and melatonin in the brain. You can take vitamin C with the niacin to help the body process the niacin. Niacin can be found naturally in cashews, a variety of nuts, the dark meat of chicken and turkey, mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes, and avocados.

Kris feels that niacin like the other main vitamin B sources are an important part of nutrition. It is highly recommended that if you do not eat a lot of these foods that you take daily multivitamins and Vitamin B3 supplements which can be found at your local drug store.

Deficiencies 
A deficiency in niacin causes pellagra, diarrhea, dementia, dermatitis, and potentially even death when combined with certain types of starvation including certain fad diets. It also decreases metabolism and a tolerance for cold weather. A deficiency of niacin also causes lesions at the base of the neck, skin thickening, amnesia, anxiety, the inability to focus, upset stomach, and delirium, Niacin has also been known to reverses atherosclerosis since it reduces cholesterol and triglycerides. Niacin has also been used to reduce the dependency on alcohol. Niacin has also been used to reverse natural depression, as well as dysthymia, and major depressive disorder. People who have very serious depression 3000 mg of niacin is needed according to the studies that suggest a niacin treatment. There are some instances where 11,500 mg were needed to treat extremely depressed or psychotic people which is above the toxicity level according to the FDA. For people who have less serious depression need between 20 and 250 mg of niacin to feel better in studies related to niacin and depression. Hartnup’s disease is a hereditary niacin disorder where the intestines absorb very little amino acids and the kidneys eliminate what little niacin is in the blood, which results in a niacin deficiency. This particular disease develops mostly in infants and causes mental retardation, short stature, a rash when exposed to the sun, fainting, and delusions. Carcinoid syndrome is also a niacin deficiency disease. It is also believed that many serious mental illnesses are caused by a deficiency of niacin since their bodies are niacin dependent and need thousands of mg of niacin to function daily.

After Kris’s research, he can tell you that a Vitamin B aka niacin deficiency is quite nasty. However, this should never be used without being under the supervision of a doctor because too much niacin can also cause major damage to the liver and other critical functions of the body. Niacin should be used in conjunction with anti-depressants in nearly all cases. Make sure that you and your psychiatrist come up with an effective plan for treating depression spanning all aspects of your life rather than just trying one of these very obscure and not very well researched vitamin treatments.

Dosage

Dosages vary from person to person, but it is recommended that children have about 12 mg of niacin a day, and adults have around 15 mg a day for a regular person. Depending on size and weight, a doctor can help you prescribe a regiment that is a bit higher or lower to ensure that you are getting the proper vitamins needed.

Kris has taken significantly higher dosages of niacin than this because he is a big guy. However, he cannot say for sure that niacin had any effect on his depression because of all the other prescription drugs that he is taking.

Toxicity

If the person taking the niacin is normal and takes 35mg of niacin, they will feel hot and their skin will turn bright red which is also known as flushing. This is usually coupled with a tingling sensation, which can be avoided by taking aspirin or ibuprofen thirty minutes before taking niacin. Doses of 1.5 grams to 6 grams can lead to dry skin, nausea, and makes eczema worse. It can also damage the liver and make blood sugar levels raise. It may also cause birth defects.

Kris has gotten niacin flush many times and did not feel it was as bad as some people make it out to be. However, the toxicity in Vitamin B as you can see can be incredibly dangerous. Kris cannot emphasis enough that niacin treatments should be a part of an overall depression treatment and not just an alternative to anti-depressants.