Niacin Improves Microcirculation

Anyone who's taken niacin (nicotinic acid) has no doubt experienced the niacin flush, but are there any benefits to this (for some) uncomforatable flushing and tingling of the skin?

Here's a study (Influence of xantinole nicotinic acid on cutaneous microcirculation in patients with coronary artery disease and hyperlipoproteinemia) that took 8 adults (admittedly a small sample) who had already been identified with coronary artery disease, gave them nicotinic acid, and then measured the microcirculation bloodflow in teh skin resulting from the vaso dilation caused by the niacin.

"...nicotinic acid (NA) dose dependently lowers plasma levels of atherogenic lipoproteins and increases blood flow through vasodilation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of NA on cutaneous microcirculation in patients with coronary artery disease and hyperlipidemia."

The results:

"The administration of 1000 mg of NA resulted in a significant improvement of the cutaneous microcirculation in patients with coronary artery disease and hyperlipidemia."

So taking niacin resutls in increased blood flow to the skin, which could be beneficial for healing or other therapeudic purposes.