Gluten Free Diet Stopped Niacin Flush

[Mr Wheat Free]

About 10 years ago I tried a health supplement called Niacin (Vitamin B3) which used to give me a rash called a Niacin Flush.

 

Then about 4 years ago I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and started a strict Gluten Free diet. Recently I tried taking Niacin again and was surprised to find that it didn't give me a rash, not even when taking high doses.

 

I have read that Niacin Flush is caused when Niacin reacts with receptors in the body called PD1 receptors, so in theory the Gluten Free diet must be reducing the activity of these PD1 receptors.

 

Has anybody else tried taking Niacin? It would be interesting to hear if anyone else has found that a Gluten Free diet has prevented Niacin Flush.

 

[LauraTX]

Welcome to the forum!

 

Whether or not you get a niacin flush when taking niacin supplements depends on a lot of factors.  Many niacin supplements are made to be "flush free" with things like special coatings, since consumers may find that bothersome.  Also, the dose overall could be different.  Since you probably don't know the exact specifications of what you took 10 years ago, that won't be able to be determined.  If you have Celiac disease and you have unhealthy absorption in your small intestine, that could affect any flush, as well as whether or not it was taken with food.

 

Your statement of a gluten-free diet reducing the activity of PD1 receptors has no evidence to support it.  If a person with Celiac disease is properly following a gluten-free diet and has a fully healed small intestine, they actually absorb things better, which can lead to different experiences with things like alcohol, caffeine, and vitamins.  There are so many variations of products out there, you really cannot accurately do a controlled comparison to your experience now versus ten years ago.  Something as specific as a statement about the PD 1 receptors just cannot be supported with weak anecdotal evidence.

[mateo2099]

gluten-free for 5 years now and I still get the Niacin flush if I take Niacin.  First time I took the supplement I thought my head was going to explode and felt like I was turning into the Red Hulk.  

[Mr Wheat Free]

I can't really think of any other changes I've made to my diet since starting a Gluten Free diet which does suggest that the Gluten Free diet has played a role in preventing the Niacin flush. The Niacin I was taking was just ordinary Niacin, not flush-free Niacin.