K. Thomas Packard, who works in the healthcare industry, recently studied the effect of niacin on his Restless Legs Syndrome. He had read how a megadose helped Dennis Mangan’s mother. He gave a talk about his results and posted at Genomera.
The niacin didn’t help him. However, the highest dose he tried was 500 mg/day. Mangan’s mom, who surely weighs less than Packard, took 1000 mg/day. He doesn’t explain why he thought a much lower dose would work. Perhaps he weighs twice as much as Mangan’s mom, so 500 mg/day, in terms of body weight, may have been only 25% of the dose that worked for her. It’s too bad he went to all that trouble and used a maximum dose that could easily have been too low.
Part of the study “hypothesis” (= idea to be tested?) was
The “medium” dose may generally be more effective, than both the “low” and “high” doses, in eliminating symptoms of RLS and avoiding side effects of niacin.
Why this might be true isn’t explained.
After Week 3, Packard wrote “The niacin was not working, so I abandoned the experiment on Wednesday. I went back to my original medication and am doing OK.” He says nothing about side effects.
Packard later found that his ferritin was low, apparently a side effect of this study. If his RLS persists after he improves his ferritin level, I hope he tries niacin again at better dosages.
I think that niacinamide is generally safer, because it doesn’t have the “niacin flush” effect. Niacinamide lowers stress hormones by lowering free fatty acids; I usually take 500mg once or twice a day and it makes me feel calmer. I guess it might work for RLS as well.
“The “medium” dose may generally be more effective, than both the “low” and “high” doses, in eliminating symptoms of RLS and avoiding side effects of niacin.
Why this might be true isn’t explained.”
Paul Jaminet in his book, Perfect Health Diet, talks about the concept of plateau ranges for nutrients. For zero up to a certain level, a nutrient is of increasing benefit. Then there is a plateau range of maximum benefit for a nutrient. Then intake over that amount causes a decrease in benefit and finally, excessive nutrient intake is harmful.
In my own case, I find carb intake is best between 50-75 grams of carbs a day. Less than that, I get jittery from being in ketosis. More than that, I get acne.
I find carb intake is best between 50-75 grams of carbs a day. Less than that, I get jittery from being in ketosis
You might test supplementing with inositol:
itsthewooo.blogspot.com/2012/05/dont-cold-turkey-inositol.html
I never see this get mentioned but 0.5-1 tsp of salt dissolved in 250mL of warm water works whenever I have RLS like symptoms.
Seth
I had RLS for many years. I discovered through time that inflammation was the primary cause of my discomfort.
A new study was published in the January 14, 2012 issue of “Sleep Medicine Review Journal” that supports my theory:
https://www.rlcure.com/rls_study.pdf
The following website has evidence based on scientific studies that the vitamins/supplements that people have claimed has made their RLS less irritating all have anti-inflammatory qualities, including niacin.
https://www.rlcure.com/studiesr.html
A blog for RLS sufferers with helpful tips can be found here:
https://therestlesslegsblog.wordpress.com
David
Some research suggests that low ferritin levels are a secondary cause of RLS. When I read this, and was aware of my own low ferritin levels, I upped by Iron supplementation…no more RLS!
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0701/p108.html