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Feb
5
Vitamin Proves Better Then Big Pharma Drug
Filed Under Big Pharma, Future of Medicine, MERCK, Men's Health, Natural Healing, Natural Solutions, Women's Health
HFA is one of the leading websites promoting alternative medicines such as MMS and vitamins to stay healthy. It is not often that we get a study comparing vitamins to a popular drug by Big Pharma.
But sometimes pigs do fly and we have such a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine comparing an inexpensive form of vitamin B (Niacin) to a popular cholesterol drug (Zetia) made by Merck. And guess what? The vitamin was better!
Niacin had a beneficial effect on the plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the brain, but despite the fact that Zetia reduced LDL by almost 20 percent in patients who already had LDL cholesterol levels of less than 100 mg/dL, patients taking the drug had a slight worsening of the plaque build-up. Moreover, nine patients in the Zetia arm had heart attacks, stroke, or died from heart disease, versus just two patients taking niacin. Results reported here Sunday may not put the nail in the coffin for a once wildly popular cholesterol-lowering drug, but they do put Zetia at the bottom of the list of medications that doctors will be using.
The niacin used in the study is not variety available in health food stores and drug stores. It is a prescription product that has a special timed-release formulation, which may cut down on the hot flashes that are associated with niacin use.
Zetia, known generically as ezetimibe, is highly effective at reducing LDL, the so-called bad cholesterol. But niacin boosts HDL, or good cholesterol.
In the study reported at the American Heart Association meeting here — and published online by the New England Journal of Medicine — good trumped bad.
Niacin had a beneficial effect on the plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the brain, but despite the fact that Zetia reduced LDL by almost 20 percent in patients who already had LDL cholesterol levels of less than 100 mg/dL, patients taking the drug had a slight worsening of the plaque build-up.
“This trial doesn’t quite put the nail in the coffin for ezetimibe, but it pushes it way down on the list of medications for cholesterol-lowering therapy,” DeMaria said.
Moreover, nine patients in the Zetia arm had heart attacks, stroke, or died from heart disease, versus just two patients taking niacin.
“Niacin had a superior effect on the artery wall,” said Dr. Allan Taylor, a cardiologist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center who headed the study. “The take-home message is clear: niacin should be the choice when considering an add-on therapy.”
Taylor pulled no punches at a press conference to discuss the results, pressing the point that at time when the nation is watching the bottom line on healthcare costs, it’s time to switch to niacin — which even in the branded formulation called Niaspan, which was used in the trial, is cheaper than Zetia. Noting that in 2008, 9 million Americans were taking Zetia versus just 2.5 who were taking niacin, Taylor said that switching would reap big potential savings as well as better outcomes.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HeartDiseaseNews/cheap-niacin-beats-pricier-zetia-heart-patients/story?id=9092855
Comments
16 Responses to “Vitamin Proves Better Then Big Pharma Drug”
Leave a Reply
Where can the niacin used in the study or something very similar to it be purchased? Than you in advance for your reply.
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Jean Brill Reply:
February 13th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Where can nisspan be purchased and is it expensive?
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So where can I buy Niaspan?
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FRANK Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
ASK GOOGLE LOADS OF PLACES
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Jeane Atkinson Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Where can I buy the Niacin used in the study?
[Reply]
dk Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
You can buy Niacin at most places that sell vitamins. It is a form of vitamin B… The Niacin used in the study is prescription Niacin. The only difference is prescription Niacin may or may not be time released capsules. Also prescription vitamins have exact dosage for researchers to study. Over the counter may or may not be exact dosage.
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Careful… The FDA will classify it as a drug so one of their buddies can make more money off it.
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“Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!”, as Gomer used to say. Imagine that, a more natural substance is better for your body and has better results than a synthetically produced drug.
It is truly time to rethink the FDA and big Pharma’s hold on medical treatment. No more rip off and over-charging for drugs.
Natural is better and cheaper.
[Reply]
Where can I purchase this particular Niacin?
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Gee whilikers folks.
You mean drugs and chemicals might have negative side effects and harm the body while big Pharma collects monstrous fees and the mortuaries are able to cover their overhead at the same time?????????
Let’s all hear it for the FDA (Federal Drugpeddlers Agency)and the AMA (thier connection). Anybody gotta needle handy its time for the next fix?
[Reply]
S. Thompson Reply:
February 13th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Niaspan is available by prescription only…and, let’s get it right kids…FDA stands for the “Fraud and Death Administration”.
Signed, Your friendly (anti) pharmacist
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my understanding of time release niacin is it may have a damaging effect on the liver. better to use the type that causes flushing.
Charles Hough, DC
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What is the amount which should be taken as a supplement?
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The prescription version of niacin is Niaspan, a 500mg-1000mg version taken at two tablets in the evening. The vitamin does cause flushing, but less so than straight niacin. Niacinamide (“no flush niacin”) does not work the same way, although it is often used as a substitute for niacin in multivitamins.
Niacin can cause blood sugar to rise, may be contraindicated for people with stomach ulcers, liver disease, kidney problems and shouldn’t be take by active alcoholics. The most common side effects include flushing, headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, increased cough, and itching. If you take cholesterol medication take it 4 hours apart.
Wonderlab sells a 500mg time release niacin for $6.99 for 100 pills. The Abbot Labs site says that there may be liver problems when changing from a longterm time release to intermediate time release niacin, so if you are changing brands, spend a few days without it. Start at 500 mg/day.
If you are on a statin, there is no extra benefit to taking niacin or vice versa. Incidentally the anti-inflammatory effect of two cups of coffee a day or a half pint of blueberries is the same as a statin. http://www.acupuncturebrooklyn.com/news/coffee-beats-statins-in-diabetes-inflammation
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laurie Reply:
February 15th, 2010 at 11:10 am
It is always better to use a balanced approach with supplements or even with recommending foods that you want to produce an anti-inflammatory effect. For example, too many blueberries will cause diarrhe in certain individuals. Too much coffe (even 2 cups per day in certain individuals) will cause dehydration and lead to inflammation of the stomach lining, possibly ulcers. The only effective way to know which foods and supplements are good for you is to have an Ayurvedic consultation and learn about your doshic constitution and then have an Ayurvedic practitioner or doctor design a healing program for your disease symptoms.
http://www.ayurveda-bliss.com
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It is always better to use a balanced approach with supplements. Too much niacin can be hard on the kidneys and liver and may throw off the metabolization of other B vitamins. The effects of such high doses of niacin have not been studied longterm. You do not want to substitute one chemical for another chemical, even if the chemical is a good one in normal doses. If you do take niacin supplements, take them with other B vitamins and with a meal.
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