A new study published in Nature Medicine has identified 4PY, a metabolic product of excess niacin that is linked to an increased risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.
High levels of niacin may increase the risk of heart disease by triggering inflammation and damaging blood vessels.
High levels of niacin, an essential B vitamin found in many foods and often added to cereals and breads as a fortificant, may increase the risk of heart disease by triggering inflammation and damaging blood vessels. A new study published Monday in Nature Medicine has identified 4PY, a metabolic product of excess niacin that is linked to an increased risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.
4PY, a byproduct of excess niacin (vitamin B-3), is linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and vascular inflammation which can lead to atherosclerosis.
Higher circulating levels of 4PY were strongly associated with development of heart attack, stroke and other adverse cardiac events in large-scale clinical studies.
The researchers also showed that 4PY directly triggers vascular inflammation which damages blood vessels and can lead to atherosclerosis over time.
Genetic links between 4PY and vascular inflammation have been discovered, providing a foundation for potential new interventions and therapeutics to reduce or prevent that inflammation.
Niacin (vitamin B-3) is very common in a Western diet. One in four subjects in the researchers' patient cohorts appear to be getting too much niacin which had high levels of 4PY, contributing to cardiovascular disease development.
Dr. Hazen compares our intake of niacin as multiple taps pouring water into a bucket. Once that bucket is filled, it begins to spill over and the human body needs to process that spill-over and produce other metabolites including 4PY.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that high levels of niacin are linked to heart disease without providing any evidence or citing the study where this link was found. Secondly, it quotes Dr. Hazen as saying that one in four subjects had high levels of 4PY which appears to contribute to cardiovascular disease development but does not provide any context for how many people were included in these studies and what their results were. Thirdly, the article states that niacin is no longer a go-to treatment for lowering cholesterol without providing any evidence or citing the study where this conclusion was reached.
The sentence 'High levels of 4PY are linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and vascular inflammation' is deceptive because it implies that high levels of 4PY directly cause these events without providing any evidence or citing the study where this link was found.
The sentence 'One in four subjects in the researchers’ patient cohorts appear to be getting too much, and had high levels of 4PY' is deceptive because it implies that all patients with high levels of 4PY are at risk for cardiovascular disease without providing any context or evidence.
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing a study published in Nature Medicine without providing any context or explanation of the findings. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by stating that niacin fuels inflammation and cardiovascular disease through newly discovered pathway when there may be other contributing factors. The article also contains an example of hasty generalization by stating that one in four subjects in the researchers' patient cohorts appear to be getting too much niacin, which had high levels of 4PY, without providing any evidence or context for this claim.
The author uses an appeal to authority by citing a study published in Nature Medicine without providing any context or explanation of the findings.
Bias
(85%)
The article reports on a study that found high levels of 4PY, a byproduct of excess niacin (vitamin B-3), are linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and vascular inflammation. The author also mentions the discovery of a new pathway that contributes to cardiovascular disease associated with high levels of niacin. This is clearly biased as it presents only one side of the story and does not provide any counter-arguments or alternative perspectives.
The article reports on a study that found high levels of 4PY, a byproduct of excess niacin (vitamin B-3), are linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and vascular inflammation.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the link between high levels of niacin (vitamin B3) and heart disease. The author is Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., who has a financial interest in research related to niacin and its effects on cardiovascular health.
Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., is a researcher at Cleveland Clinic and has published multiple studies on niacin's effects on cardiovascular disease.
The article mentions that the study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which may have an interest in promoting heart health through dietary supplements.
High levels of niacin may raise the risk of heart disease by triggering inflammation and damaging blood vessels.
The newly detected pathway to heart disease might lead to the discovery of a medication that could reduce blood vessel inflammation and decrease the likelihood of major cardiovascular events.
Accuracy
Higher circulating levels of 4PY were strongly associated with development of heart attack, stroke and other adverse cardiac events in large-scale clinical studies.
Excessive amounts of niacin, which is routinely added to fortified food and can be taken as a supplement, may inflame blood vessels
One in four people have excess niacin, which doubles their risk of major cardiovascular events to levels comparable with diabetes or a previous heart attack
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the findings of a study without providing any evidence or context for those findings. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by stating that taking too much niacin can potentially lead to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but does not provide any information on what constitutes
Bias
(85%)
The article reports that high levels of niacin may raise the risk of heart disease by triggering inflammation and damaging blood vessels. The recommended daily allowance for men is 16 milligrams per day and for women who are not pregnant is 14 milligrams per day. About 1 in 4 Americans has higher than the recommended level of niacin, according to the study's senior author Dr. Stanley Hazen. The article also mentions that prior to the development of cholesterol-lowering statins, niacin supplements were once prescribed by doctors to improve cholesterol levels.
About 1 in 4 Americans has higher than the recommended level of niacin, according to the study's senior author Dr. Stanley Hazen
High levels of niacin may raise the risk of heart disease
The recommended daily allowance for men is 16 milligrams per day and for women who are not pregnant is 14 milligrams per day
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Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Linda Carroll has a conflict of interest on the topic of niacin and heart disease as she is reporting for Nature Medicine which is owned by Springer Nature. Additionally, Dr. Stanley Hazen who was quoted in the article works at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute where Linda Carroll also reports.
Linda Carroll writes for Nature Medicine which is owned by Springer Nature.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Linda Carroll has a conflict of interest on the topic of niacin and heart disease as she is reporting for Nature Medicine which may have financial ties to companies that produce or sell niacin supplements. Additionally, Dr. Stanley Hazen who was quoted in the article has a professional affiliation with Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute where he works.
Linda Carroll is reporting for Nature Medicine which may have financial ties to companies that produce or sell niacin supplements.
People with higher levels of niacin in their blood may be more at risk of a heart attack or stroke
`4PY` is a compound that only arises when the body breaks down excess niacin
Inflammation is a major contributor to the development of heart disease
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author states that people with high levels of niacin are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those with lower levels. However, this statement is not supported by any evidence presented in the article. The only information provided about niacin and its relationship to cardiovascular events is that 4PY, a metabolite produced when excess niacin is broken down, was found to inflame blood vessels in rodents. This does not necessarily mean that high levels of niacin cause heart attacks or strokes. Secondly, the author quotes Stanley Hazen stating that there are missing risk factors for cardiovascular disease and that something else must be causing heart attacks even when all existing risk factors are treated. However, this statement is also unsupported by any evidence presented in the article. The only information provided about potential new risk factors is a metabolite called 4PY which was found to inflame blood vessels in rodents. This does not necessarily mean that it causes heart attacks or strokes and there may be other contributing factors at play. Finally, the author mentions that niacin supplements are increasingly popular as evidence suggests they have anti-aging benefits, but this is not supported by any evidence presented in the article.
The statement 'people with high levels of niacin are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those with lower levels' is deceptive because it implies that there is direct causation between high niacin levels and cardiovascular events, but no evidence supports this claim.
The quote from Stanley Hazen stating 'something else must be causing heart attacks even when all existing risk factors are treated' is deceptive because it suggests that the researchers have identified a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but there is no evidence presented in the article to support this claim.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it quotes Stanley Hazen at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio stating that there is something missing in identifying all risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing niacin as a popular supplement with anti-aging benefits, which may lead readers to believe that taking niacin supplements is safe and beneficial.
The article quotes Stanley Hazen at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio stating that there is something missing in identifying all risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses the phrase 'popular supplement' to suggest that niacin is widely used for health benefits which implies a positive view on it despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
> Niacin, or vitamin B3, is a popular supplement
Niacin supplements are also increasingly popular as evidence suggests they have anti-ageing benefits
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Grace Wade has a conflict of interest on the topic of niacin supplements as she is an employee of Facebook/Meta and Twitter/X icon. She also mentions LinkedIn in her article which could indicate another potential conflict.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Grace Wade has a conflict of interest on the topics of niacin supplements and heart attacks/strokes as she is reporting for New Scientist which sells Niacin supplements.
Niacin has been found to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease if taken in excess
A metabolic product of excess niacin called N1-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide (4PY) is associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events such as a heart attack or stroke
Excess niacin may have mixed effects on the body and its ability to increase HDL (good) cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol is not conclusively proven to reduce cardiovascular disease risk
Accuracy
One in four people have excess niacin, which doubles their risk of major cardiovascular events to levels comparable with diabetes or a previous heart attack
Deception
(70%)
The article does not disclose sources and quotes from other experts are ignored. The author editorializes by stating that niacin may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease without providing evidence beyond a single study.
Fallacies
(80%)
The article discusses a study that found an association between excess niacin and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The author cites the metabolic product N1-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide (4PY) as being responsible for this increase in risk through inflammation. However, it is important to note that correlation does not necessarily imply causation and further research would be needed to confirm these findings.
The study found a strong association between excess niacin and an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke.
Bias
(85%)
The article suggests that an excess of niacin may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The author cites a study published in Nature Medicine which found a strong association between a metabolic product of excess niacin and an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke. One in four people in the study had excess niacin, which doubled their risk of major cardiovascular events to levels comparable with diabetes or previous heart attacks. The author also mentions that Niacin's ability to increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) has made it a first line of intervention for preventing cardiovascular disease prior to the introduction of statins. However, the new findings suggest that excess niacin may have mixed effects on the body.
The study found a strong association between a metabolic product of excess niacin and an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Annalisa Merelli has a conflict of interest with the topic of niacin and its effects on cardiovascular disease. She is affiliated with statnews.com which may have financial ties to companies that produce or sell niacin supplements.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of niacin and its relationship to cardiovascular disease. The article mentions that niacin is often referred to as a public health darling, which could suggest that the author may have financial ties or personal relationships with companies or organizations involved in promoting niacin for heart health.
The article mentions that niacin has been promoted as a way to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This could suggest that the author may have financial ties or personal relationships with companies or organizations involved in promoting niacin for heart health.
4PY, a byproduct of excess niacin (vitamin B-3), is linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and vascular inflammation which can lead to atherosclerosis.
Higher circulating levels of 4PY were strongly associated with development of heart attack, stroke and other adverse cardiac events in large-scale clinical studies.
The researchers also showed that 4PY directly triggers vascular inflammation which damages blood vessels and can lead to atherosclerosis over time.
Genetic links between 4PY and vascular inflammation have been discovered, providing a foundation for potential new interventions and therapeutics to reduce or prevent that inflammation.
Niacin (vitamin B-3) is very common in a Western diet. One in four subjects in the researchers' patient cohorts appear to be getting too much niacin which had high levels of 4PY, contributing to cardiovascular disease development.
Dr. Hazen compares our intake of niacin as multiple taps pouring water into a bucket. Once that bucket is filled, it begins to spill over and the human body needs to process that spill-over and produce other metabolites including 4PY.
Accuracy
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that niacin has been recommended to lower cholesterol which is not true as the FDA removed its approval for this use in 2013 due to lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness and safety. Secondly, the article claims that higher circulating levels of 4PY were strongly associated with development of heart attack, stroke and other adverse cardiac events in large-scale clinical studies which is not entirely accurate as these associations are based on observational data rather than randomized controlled trials. Thirdly, the article states that niacin lowers cholesterol but fails to mention that it also increases triglycerides levels which can lead to an increased risk of heart disease. Lastly, the article suggests that patients should consult with their doctors before taking over-the-counter supplements made with different forms of niacin which is not necessary as these supplements are generally safe and effective when taken in appropriate doses.
The article claims that higher circulating levels of 4PY were strongly associated with development of heart attack, stroke and other adverse cardiac events in large-scale clinical studies which is not entirely accurate as these associations are based on observational data rather than randomized controlled trials.
The article states that niacin has been recommended to lower cholesterol but the FDA removed its approval for this use in 2013 due to lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness and safety.
The article suggests that patients should consult with their doctors before taking over-the-counter supplements made with different forms of niacin which is not necessary as these supplements are generally safe and effective when taken in appropriate doses.
The article states that niacin lowers cholesterol but fails to mention that it also increases triglycerides levels which can lead to an increased risk of heart disease.
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the findings provide a foundation for potential new interventions and therapeutics to reduce or prevent inflammation. This statement implies that the research is trustworthy and reliable without providing any evidence of its validity. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by suggesting that either niacin should be cut out entirely or there should be no mandate for flour and cereal fortification with niacin in the U.S., when it's possible to find a balance between these two options. The article also contains an example of inflammatory rhetoric, as the author describes 4PY as
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement that niacin is no longer recommended as a treatment for lowering cholesterol. This implies bias towards the idea that niacin has negative effects on health and should not be used in medicine.
]Despite niacin lowering of cholesterol, the clinical benefits have always been less than anticipated based on the degree of LDL reduction. This led to the idea that excess niacin caused unclear adverse effects that partially counteracted the benefits of LDL lowering.
The new findings also might help explain why niacin is no longer a go-to treatment for lowering cholesterol.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses a study that found a link between high levels of niacin and heart disease. The author is Science X, which has financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry as they are owned by a company that produces drugs containing niacin.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of niacin and heart disease as they are affiliated with Cleveland Clinic which is involved in research related to this topic.
