Is Vitamin B3 the answer to a HEALTHY HEART?

Doctors Are Now Looking At Other Tests To Determine If Patients Are At Risk Of Developing Plaque In Their Arteries

    Cardiologist Ganesh Kumar has prescribed it to many of his patients. “Not only do their Lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a) levels fall, the levels of good cholesterol also increase,’’ said Kumar. So, could Vitamin B3 be the answer for many heart ailments? Doctors are still not sure. 
    Dr N O Bansal, who heads the cardiology department of J J Hospital, said, “The new niacin tablets do reduce Lp(a) levels, but we still don’t know how big a role Lp(a) plays in heart disease.”
    He said there was a need for longterm research to establish a firm link. “We have known for three
decades about bad-good cholesterol levels. Now we need to study Lp(a) levels and heart diseases carefully. Research in this field has just begun and we will hopefully provide answers in the coming years.’’
    But according to Delhi-based cardiologist Dr Ashok Seth, a clinical trial called Aim High conducted by the US-based National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute was called off. “It found that adding high dose, extended-release niacin to statin treatment in people with heart and vascular disease did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.’’
    Seth, however, added that he too has prescribed the new niacin to some patients after studying their risk factors. “But it cannot be randomly prescribed,’’ he added.
BLOOD TEST FOR THE HEART
It is well known that high levels of “bad” cholesterol in blood can be a sign that the person is at an increased risk of having a heart attack. Other substances can help determine if a patient is at risk of developing plaques in his/her arteries (atherosclerosis).
    C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein the liver produces in response to an injury or infection. While it’s not specific to the heart, CRP results along with other tests can tell if there is an inflammation in the heart. The American Heart Association pegs a reading of 1 to 3 mg/L as average risk.
    Homocysteine (h) is a substance the body uses to make protein and to build and maintain tissue. But too much h may increase the risk of stroke and certain types of heart disease. A normal homocysteine level is between 4.4 and 10.8 micromoles per litre (µmol/L).
    Cholesterol test or lipid profile measures the fats (lipids) in the blood. These measurements can tell one’s risk of having a heart attack or other heart disease. The test includes total cholesterol. A high level (over 200 mg/dL) puts one at increased risk of heart disease.
    Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is called the “bad” cholesterol. Too much of it in blood causes the accumulation of fatty deposits (plaques) in the arteries (atherosclerosis), reducing blood flow. The ideal LDL level is less than 130 mg/dL
    High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is called the “good” cholesterol because it helps carry away LDL cholesterol, keeping arteries open. The ideal HDL level is 60 mg/dL.
    Triglycerides is a type of fat. High levels mean one is eating more calories than one burns. The ideal level should be less than 150 mg/dL
Lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a) is a type of LDL cholesterol. It’s determined by the genes and isn’t generally affected by lifestyle. High levels of Lp(a) may be a sign of increased risk of heart disease. (Source: Mayo Clinic)