It’s been a few weeks since my last entry and I have nothing new on sorting out the best method to loose that Last 10 Pounds. However, I do need to brag a bit and this forum is just the place. I finally had a regular doctor visit (a well patient check up) were the doctor was actually impressed with my latest blood work and my blood pressure.
Over the last 8 years, since my own personal lifestyle change, I’ve kept the blood sugar under control with diet and exercise, e.g. weight (fat) control, but I have never been able to adequately control my cholesterol. Even with a daily dose of Lipitor (20mg) and managing total cholesterol below 200, my HDL (good) and my LDL (bad) were always upside down; higher LDL then HDL. Generally, my LDL would be close to or above triple digits and my HDL would be below 70. Because of this, in October, my ‘Pill Pushin’ doctor had me start a 500 mg daily regiment of vitamin B3 or niacin. Not the slow release kind mind you, but the niacin that gives you ‘prickly heat’ 20 minutes after you’ve swallow it. And based on the numbers from my last visit this March, it looks like between the niacin and the Lipitor, I have a bit of control over the numbers; better than 70 HDL and lower than 70 LDL. Combined with a blood pressure of 116 over 64 and a resting pulse rate of under 60, the doctor informed me that I should ramp up my 401K investment.
So all of the extreme exercise, watching my diet, taking my daily meds plus taking a handful of other supplements (fish oil, baby aspirin, multi-vitamin, B12 and B3) may have finally paid off, I’ll be around longer.
The B3 (niacin) that I am now taking has several other positive effects. The two that I noted immediately were; 1) I fall asleep faster and I sleep sounder, and 2) I feel a bit more active; almost a rush but very subdued. This better sleep and neural rush, in my opinion, helps substantially with my workout routines, most notably during cardio activities. I feel less fatigued during and after those routines allowing me to roll up ‘personal bests’ as far as measured calorie count, e.g. the 300-20’s.
After a bit of research on niacin, I found that niacin is actually a nicotine derivative (nicotinic acid) and besides it’s lipid metabolism improving effects, it also has an effect on serotonin production and stimulates the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, the muscle activating (contracting) interface between the nervous system and skeletal muscles. Serotonin production is improved by virtue of more dietary tryptophan available for conversion to serotonin. So the thought goes, if you’re niacin deficient, instead of the tryptophan being converted to serotonin, it’s converted to niacin to keep the other, higher priority, peripheral nervous systems functional.
If you were once a smoker (and yes, I was, for nearly 30 years) and can remember how that 1st morning smoke with coffee made you feel, you’ll understand the subdued rush I describe above. Could niacin being related to nicotine also be the reason I never had cholesterol issues, slept like a ‘rock’ and seemed to never suffer from general fatigue until I had quite smoking? I’ve never found anything written on the subject but you’ve got to wonder.
So for what it’s worth, I would recommend niacin as a training supplement and maybe a supplement that could help you quit smoking. Just talk to your doctor beforehand and make sure it doesn’t affect other meds or aggravate other conditions.
I also plan on trying a B6 supplement. That also has a neurotransmitter function and is the other compound used with tryptophan in serotonin production.
Keep the faith and we’ll all live forever.
MMJennings
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