Niacin works in several ways to improve
cholesterol levels. It is thought that it works to
increase HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) levels by preventing the liver from removing
HDL from the bloodstream. Additionally, niacin seems to decrease the liver's production of
LDL and
VLDL, two types of "bad" cholesterol. Niacin also helps decrease the release of fatty acids (from body fat) into the bloodstream. It is important to note that nicotinic acid (not niacinamide or nicotinamide) has these effects on cholesterol.
Niacin might also help reduce blood clotting by decreasing the level of fibrinogen in the blood. Fibrinogen is used to make fibrin, an important component of blood clots.
It is not clear if niacin is appropriate for use in children. Of course, a normal dietary intake of niacin through a healthy diet is safe and probably beneficial.
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