The niacin flush isn't dangerous, but it can be very uncomfortable and even frightening if you're not expecting it. The niacin flush may be reduced in severity by taking aspirin 30 minutes before taking the niacin supplements, or by using time-released niacin.
Some people take niacin to improve their cholesterol levels with the hopes of decreasing their risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis. Large daily doses of niacin, 50 milligrams (mg) or more, may help to decrease LDL cholesterol, the bad kind of cholesterol, and increase the HDL cholesterol, which is the good form of cholesterol.
Most people don't need niacin supplements for normal health, you can easily get all the niacin you need from a normal diet, just around 14 or 15 mg per day for adults. Niacin-rich foods include nuts, legumes, eggs, poultry, beef and seafood. Pellegra, a disease due to niacin deficiency, is rare in developed countries; niacin deficiency is most commonly found in alcoholics.
Although niacin is a vitamin, when it is taken in doses over 50 mg, it acts like a drug and can cause unwanted side effects. The niacin flush may be harmless, but taking large doses for long periods of time may cause liver damage, might interfere with certain prescription medications, and can also raise your blood sugar levels.
You should not take large doses of niacin supplements (over 50 mg per day) without speaking to your health care provider. You don't need to worry about getting too much niacin from multiple vitamin supplements, they only contain small amounts of niacin and will not lead to a niacin flush.
Sources:
Sood A, Arora R. "Mechanisms of flushing due to niacin and abolition of these effects." J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2009 Nov;11(11):685-9.
University of Maryland Medical Center. "Vitamin B3 (Niacin)." Accessed March 22, 2011. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/vitamin-b3-000335.htm.
