Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a common supplement used to lower cholesterol and manage blood fat levels. It’s available over the counter and often seen as a safe way to support heart health.

Here’s what happens in your body when you have high cholesterol: The waxy cholesterol builds up in artery walls and contributes to plaque, a hard deposit that narrows and clogs the arteries. (You may ...

More information: Daniel Y. Johnson et al, Hypertension, Diabetes, and High Cholesterol Awareness Among US Adults, JAMA Cardiology (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2025.1536 ...