"Heart disease remains the number one
killer for American adults."
THE NIACIN BREAKTHROUGH
In this book, you’ll learn all the details so you’re better prepared to talk with your doctor about how today’s niacin can help you achieve your health goals.
BOOK REVIEWS
"I would recommend this book to any clinician who does not already have familiarity with niacin therapy, or is in need of a single agent approach to improving lipid profiles in their patients."
Review By Node Smith, ND
In a new book, The Niacin Breakthrough: The Kennan Protocol for Heart Health and Healthy Aging, Dr. Keenan presents an incredibly concise and well-researched tool for addressing high cholesterol: Nicotinic acid.
Nicotinic acid, or niacin, as a therapy for lowering cholesterol has been around for a long time. And most naturopathic doctors will have learned about it in school. However, many naturopathic doctors, especially those of a younger generation may shy away from using higher doses of niacin in clinical practice due to the concern over liver damage. Dr. Keenan does an excellent job in this short text of addressing this concern, without overshadowing the need for monitoring liver enzymes. For any naturopathic doctor who may not already be using niacin in their practice, this text will certainly provide a tremendous amount of comfort in beginning to do so.
The text is well-written, easy to follow, and concise. It is a book written primarily to present and discuss a single non-pharmaceutical tool that has been shown effective in treating dyslipidemia. Dr. Keenan points out that niacin therapy has a historical track record of not only being able to effectively lower LDL levels but also address the other two factors of mixed dyslipidemia: low HDL and high triglycerides. The utility of addressing a patient’s entire lipid profile with a single agent is remarkable, especially considering that the conventional first-line tool (statin drugs) only lowers LDL cholesterol.
Dr. Keenan’s cross-comparison of niacin with statin medications is frank and diplomatic, without delving into political motivations or conspiracy theories, which is refreshing. He is very realistic in his conclusion that the most likely reason for niacin falling out of favor in the treatment of cardiovascular health is due to the common side effect of “flushing,” which can be a nuisance to people taking therapeutic doses.
The research and development of nicotinic acid in extended-release forms has been very successful in providing products that lower the likelihood of side effects and also lower the dose needed, which also lowers the likelihood of adverse liver responses. The difference between immediate release forms, and extended release forms are discussed thoroughly, with specific dosing recommendations for both, as well as when each would be indicated. There is also extensive discussion on various methods to employ to diminish side effects - such as taking aspirin, dividing doses, taking with food, increasing dosing slowly, and other techniques.
The text is well-written, easy to follow, and concise. It is a book written primarily to present and discuss a single non-pharmaceutical tool that has been shown effective in treating dyslipidemia. Dr. Keenan points out that niacin therapy has a historical track record of not only being able to effectively lower LDL levels but also address the other two factors of mixed dyslipidemia: low HDL and high triglycerides. The utility of addressing a patient’s entire lipid profile with a single agent is remarkable, especially considering that the conventional first-line tool (statin drugs) only lowers LDL cholesterol.
Dr. Keenan’s cross-comparison of niacin with statin medications is frank and diplomatic, without delving into political motivations or conspiracy theories, which is refreshing. He is very realistic in his conclusion that the most likely reason for niacin falling out of favor in the treatment of cardiovascular health is due to the common side effect of “flushing,” which can be a nuisance to people taking therapeutic doses.
The research and development of nicotinic acid in extended-release forms has been very successful in providing products that lower the likelihood of side effects and also lower the dose needed, which also lowers the likelihood of adverse liver responses. The difference between immediate release forms, and extended release forms are discussed thoroughly, with specific dosing recommendations for both, as well as when each would be indicated. There is also extensive discussion on various methods to employ to diminish side effects - such as taking aspirin, dividing doses, taking with food, increasing dosing slowly, and other techniques.
The text is written to a patient audience, however, it does include adequate biochemistry, research studies with citations, and clear protocol overviews with dosing and strategization to make it absolutely relevant for the clinician. It is clearly written for individuals who have a genuine interest in non-pharmaceutical options, and have at least some idea of the physiological importance of taking care of oneself. It’s certainly not general in any respect.
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of this Dr. Keenan’s work is the concise and practical nature of its presentation. The chapters are all organized very intuitively and are short enough to digest the information. He provides “key takeaway” sections, which are helpful for note-taking, or quick reference.