This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Niacin in Diet May Prevent Alzheimer's
July 14, 2004 -- People who get enough niacin in their diet cut their risk of Alzheimer's disease by 70%, a new study shows.
Martha Clare Morris, PhD, of the Rush Institute for Health Aging in Chicago, and colleagues studied 3,718 65-and-older residents of three south Chicago neighborhoods for more than five-and-a-half years. They also performed clinical tests on 815 of these people over four years.
They found that those who got the least niacin were 70% more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who got higher amounts. Those who got the most niacin in their diets had much slower mental decline than those who got the least niacin.
"We observed a protective association of niacin against the development of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline within normal levels of dietary intake," Morris and colleagues conclude. Their report appears in the August issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.
Foods rich in niacin include:
-
Meat and fish
-
Beans and lentils
-
Nuts
-
Fortified grains, whole-wheat bread, and fortified cereals
-
Coffee
People who get dangerously little niacin in their diets develop a disease called pellagra. Pellagra usually isn't seen in people who get at least 11 mg of niacin a day. In the Morris team's study, the group at the lowest niacin level was getting a median 14 mg a day in diet and in vitamin supplements. The current recommended daily allowance for niacin is 16 mg per day for men and 14 mg per day for women.
Benefits of higher niacin intake began in men and women at a median intake of 17 mg per day. Those at the study's highest niacin level were getting 45 mg per day in diet and supplements.
del.icio.us
Important Safety Information
- KAPIDEX may not be right for everyone. You should not take KAPIDEX if you are allergic to KAPIDEX or any of its ingredients. Severe allergic reactions have been reported.
- Symptom relief does not rule out other serious stomach conditions.
- The most common side effects of KAPIDEX were diarrhea (4.8%), stomach pain (4.0%), nausea (2.9%), common cold (1.9%), vomiting (1.6%), and gas (1.6%). KAPIDEX and certain other medicines can affect each other. Before taking KAPIDEX, tell your doctor if you are taking ampicillin, atazanavir, digoxin, iron, ketoconazole, or tacrolimus. If you are taking KAPIDEX with warfarin, you may need to be monitored because serious risks could occur.
Uses of KAPIDEX
- Persistent heartburn two or more days a week, despite treatment and diet changes, could be acid reflux disease (ARD). Prescription KAPIDEX capsules are used in adults to treat heartburn related to ARD, to heal acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus (called erosive esophagitis or EE), and to stop EE from coming back. Individual results may vary. Most damage (erosions) heals in 4–8 weeks.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional. Please see full Prescribing Information for KAPIDEX.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
KAPIDEX™ is a trademark of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., and is used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
LPD-00767
Learn the dos and don'ts of picking out frozen dinners.
