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r/MCAS•
BinarySplit

MCAS and NAD+ deficiency / niacin supplementation?

I've been intently following the research into Long Covid, as the symptom profile is so similar to MCAS that it may give some insight into the underlying diseases. Dr Afrin has even written about the degree of overlap between the two conditions' observable symptoms.

NAD+ deficiency is an emerging hypothesis for the underlying cause for Long Covid symptoms. The theory is that when there isn't enough NAD+ available for ATP production, the body scavenges tryptophan, leaving less available for serotonin synthesis. With less available serotonin, the body activates mast cells to release their stored serotonin as a last resort.

More explanations in video form: Long Covid lessons from MCAS and About NAD+ deficiency

The part that resonates with me the most is the theory that ATP demand is the underlying trigger of all other symptoms. ATP is how your body moves energy around. If you don't have enough ATP, no amount of sleep, sugar, caffeine, etc. will improve your energy levels. The more active you are, the more ATP is consumed, necessitating that more is produced from NAD+ or tryptophan. If NAD+ deficiency is a problem in MCAS, it would tidily explain fatigue and post-exertional malaise.

With all that said, this is just a hypothesis. I haven't found anything suggesting MCAS and Long Covid share a common cause, just that they have a common set of symptoms.

Has anybody here experimented with treating their MCAS by supplementing Niacin to improve NAD+ levels, or directly supplementing Tryptophan?

Posted Jan 8, 2021, 1:23 PM UTC

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annas99bananas•

Ive been using the patch MD nad+ and have noticed my mast cells behave more when I have the patch on. They changed the formula though and the new one does nothing for me. I found a really interesting article as well when I first heard the long haulers were using niacin. Im taking Nicotinamide already and ive noticed it helps. Its not the right form though that the long haulers are using. They use the flush version of niacin.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/2002/pdf/2002-v17n01-p017.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjU6-jp1ozuAhXuGDQIHdf_AbEQFjAEegQIEhAB&usg=AOvVaw2wLUxJSb0VZOT7Bx-VVuik

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namnbyte•

Yeah we use nicotinic acid instead :)

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BinarySplitOP•

Oh neat, I didn't know you could get so much stuff in patch form.

I've been taking inositol hexanicotinate (no-flush niacin) for several weeks now, and have found that doing exercise has been less punishing than before. I haven't tried any other forms of niacin yet.

It's interesting to see that Histadelia patients were also prescribed Vitamin C for histamine reduction. I guess I should take it more regularly.

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annas99bananas•

Yeah I love the patches. Let me know if you try the flush version. Im way too nervous since I already have horrible flushing.

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fighterpilottim•

Great article. Thank you!

Edit: do you have a link to this patch?

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annas99bananas•

https://www.patchmd.com/

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fighterpilottim•

Well, that was easy. Had never heard of these. Thank you for sharing.

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uberfunstuff•

Informative post - thanks.

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namnbyte•

Sounds probable from my standpoint (covid) since many (not all) long haulers seems to have been very active with gym/exercise, which by your post probably has high drainage of the ATP on a daily basis. And are now suffering very similar symptoms to MCAS.

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tyrone737•

Is possible niacin is simply draining the mast cells of inflammatory mediators repeatedly and intensely so there is less to leak out slowly later?

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BinarySplitOP•

I don't think so. I haven't heard any reports about acute inflammation from the initial doses of niacin, and my experience suggests that mast cells can't really be depleted - they can flare up and just keep getting worse and worse for weeks if you don't intervene.

I've been on niacin almost 3 weeks now, and I still easily get flare ups if I eat the wrong thing. I mainly just feel less fatigued now when the do happen.

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tyrone737•

Uh what about the massive flush?

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BinarySplitOP•

I don't think niacin's initial flush is necessary to cause to its later benefits. One doctor recommended no-flush niacin for Long Covid (said at 8:55), though another recommended the flushing variety (14:30) because there were fewer side effects (except flushing). I suspect those reported side effects are from the high doses he prescribed (up to 3000mg/day) as I haven't seen any mention of non-flushing side effects anywhere else.

I've personally been taking both Inositol-hexanicotinate and Nicotinamide (both are non-flushing forms), and have seen improvement without having any flushing. Strangely I get flushing if I stop taking them for >24 hours though. I'm not sure what's up with that.

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luislikescake•

I've wondered about something like this. Recently I had a flare-up after changing my eating and starting to do harder workouts and I noticed an effect in both my body and my mental state that would line up with low serotonin and I wondered if my body is lacking some vital component to produce it properly, then the feedback loop hits when it's depleted and triggers inflammation. Might have to try supplementing to see if it helps.

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otallynotpolitical•

Thank you for sharing your ideas! I have noticed the similarities and am curious and excited that there might be some links that could help COVID and MCAD sufferers. I will be looking into NAD+, niacin, ATP now.

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fckingmiracles•

What form of niacin is best to take? Preferrably one without flushing (I have rosacea already).

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Kxrays•

I have severe MCAS and just started NAD+ from TrueNiagen, recommended by Dr. Hoffman. I feel much less brain fog and my stomach is quite so far today(4:24 pm and no symptoms)! I slept solid and long last night. If says some feel a differenc right away and others take longer. TrueNiagen has a chart to explain what to expect physically and molecularly. If you do deep research on this, you'll see why I'm taking it. Use NIH and other trusted medical sites, Mayo clinic, etc.

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