Ingredient
Niacin and Vitamin E in Protoflow: One Over the Limit, One Under
Niacin and vitamin E in Protoflow are 75 mg and 13 mg per 2-capsule serving. The 75 mg of niacin is more than twice the 35 mg upper limit for supplement niacin, so flushing is possible. The vitamin E is about 19 IU, far under the 400 IU a day that a large trial tied to more prostate cancer.
Written by the Protoflow label deskUpdated
On the label01
What are niacin and vitamin E doing in Protoflow?
They are the two vitamin lines, and the only two with a Daily Value: niacin 75 mg (469% DV) and vitamin E 13 mg (87% DV) per 2 capsules.
Niacin is vitamin B3. Vitamin E on this label is d-alpha tocopheryl succinate, a stable form of the vitamin. Both amounts are printed on the panel, and they head the list (Protoflow bottle label).
The sales page names neither vitamin, only eight botanicals. A buyer who read the pitch and not the bottle would miss a B3 dose above the supplement limit.
The label does not claim either vitamin helps the prostate, and no source we read says so. Judge them as nutrients, against the numbers NIH sets.
| Name on the label | Vitamin E (as D-alpha tocopheryl succinate) |
|---|---|
| What it is | An antioxidant vitamin; the succinate form is a stable ester |
| Place on the label | Its own printed line |
| Amount per 2 capsules | 13 mg per 2 capsules (87% DV) |
| Amount per capsule | 6.5 mg |
| Amount used in research | 15 mg a day meets adult needs; upper limit 1,000 mg a day from supplements |
| Strength of evidence | A large trial of 400 IU a day found a higher prostate cancer risk |
| Marketed or traditional use | Antioxidant vitamin |
| Main caution | Large supplemental doses can raise bleeding risk; high doses were linked to more prostate cancer in one large trial. |
| Name on the label | Niacin (Vitamin B3) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Vitamin B3; the label does not say nicotinic acid or niacinamide |
| Place on the label | Its own printed line |
| Amount per 2 capsules | 75 mg per 2 capsules (469% DV) |
| Amount per capsule | 37.5 mg |
| Amount used in research | 16 mg a day meets adult needs; upper limit 35 mg a day from supplements and fortified food |
| Strength of evidence | Not studied for prostate or urinary health |
| Marketed or traditional use | B vitamin for energy metabolism |
| Main caution | At 75 mg this is more than twice the 35 mg upper limit; flushing, itching and stomach upset are the usual effects, and the form is not printed. |
Niacin02
Is 75 mg of niacin too much?
It is over the limit. The upper limit for supplemental niacin is 35 mg a day for adults, and a Protoflow serving holds 75 mg.
NIH sets the adult RDA at 16 mg NE a day for men and 14 mg for women. The upper limit, or UL, is 35 mg a day of niacin from supplements, and it covers both nicotinic acid and nicotinamide (NIH ODS, Niacin). The UL does not apply to people taking niacin under medical supervision.
The math: 75 divided by 35 is about 2.1. One serving is a little more than twice the limit, with no doctor involved. A bottle holds 2,250 mg of niacin.
The label says only "Niacin (Vitamin B3)". It does not say nicotinic acid or nicotinamide. That matters, because only nicotinic acid causes flushing, and nicotinamide does not (NIH ODS, Niacin).
Flushing03
Will Protoflow make you flush?
It may. NIH says nicotinic acid at roughly 30 to 50 mg or more typically causes flushing, and 75 mg is above that range.
A flush is a warm, red, itchy feeling in the face and chest. NIH calls it unpleasant rather than toxic (NIH ODS, Niacin). With the form unknown, a first-time user cannot predict it.
If you flush, do not add capsules. The label says not to exceed suggested use (Protoflow bottle label).
NIH links liver harm to high nicotinic acid doses over months or years, and raised blood glucose to 1.5 g a day or more. Both are far above 75 mg, but people with liver disease or diabetes should still ask first (NIH ODS, Niacin).
Vitamin E04
How much vitamin E is in Protoflow, and is it safe for the prostate?
A serving holds 13 mg of vitamin E, about 19 IU, which is 87% of the Daily Value and far under the 400 IU a day tested in the prostate cancer trial.
The math: NIH says 1 mg of natural vitamin E equals about 1.49 IU, and 13 times 1.49 is about 19 IU. The adult RDA is 15 mg a day (NIH ODS, Vitamin E).
The worry comes from the SELECT trial. It enrolled about 35,500 men and gave 400 IU of synthetic vitamin E a day. Vitamin E did not prevent prostate cancer, and after longer follow-up the men who took it had a statistically significant 17% higher risk of prostate cancer (NIH ODS, Vitamin E).
| Measure | Amount | Compared with the label |
|---|---|---|
| Protoflow, per 2 capsules | 13 mg, about 19 IU | Reference point |
| Adult RDA | 15 mg a day | The label is 87% of it |
| SELECT trial dose | 400 IU a day | About 20 times the label |
So the trial dose is about twenty times what a serving gives. The trial does not show that 19 IU raises risk. It does show extra vitamin E is not harmless for men watching their prostate.
Protoflow: from $49 a bottle60 capsules · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 or 6 · 60-day guarantee
See packsBlood thinners05
Does vitamin E matter with blood thinners?
Large doses can. NIH says large amounts of vitamin E with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs such as warfarin can raise bleeding risk.
The same page estimates that clinically significant amounts probably exceed 400 IU a day (NIH ODS, Vitamin E). At about 19 IU, the vitamin E line alone is unlikely to be the problem. Protoflow also holds ginkgo, which has its own bleeding flag, so show your prescriber the whole panel.
Check other pills for vitamin E and B3 too, since a multivitamin can add more than 19 IU. Bring the panel to your pharmacist.
Do not change a statin, blood thinner or diabetes medicine because of Protoflow. On doctor-ordered niacin? Tell the prescriber about the extra 75 mg first.
Our read06
Are niacin and vitamin E reasons to buy Protoflow?
No. Niacin at 75 mg is the line that most needs a second look, and the vitamin E line is a reason to avoid doubling up on E.
Fair points
- Both amounts and the vitamin E form are printed
Weak spots
- Niacin 75 mg is over the 35 mg supplement limit
- The niacin form is not printed
- Neither vitamin is tied to the prostate
The label says to consult a physician before use if you take any medication (Protoflow bottle label). The 60-day guarantee covers a bad fit. See how to take it before you order.
See Protoflow packsFAQ07
Niacin and vitamin E questions
Why is there so much niacin in Protoflow?
The label gives no reason. It prints 75 mg per serving, 469% of the Daily Value, and the upper limit for supplemental niacin is 35 mg a day (NIH ODS, Niacin) (Protoflow bottle label).
Does Protoflow niacin cause a hot flush?
It might. NIH says nicotinic acid at roughly 30 to 50 mg or more typically causes flushing, while nicotinamide does not. The label does not name the form, so you cannot know in advance (NIH ODS, Niacin).
Is 469% of the Daily Value of niacin dangerous?
The percentage is not the test. The 35 mg upper limit is, and 75 mg is over it. NIH calls flushing unpleasant rather than toxic, though liver risk rises with high doses over time (NIH ODS, Niacin).
How many IU of vitamin E are in Protoflow?
About 19 IU. The label prints 13 mg of d-alpha tocopheryl succinate, and NIH says 1 mg of natural vitamin E is about 1.49 IU. The large SELECT trial used 400 IU a day, about twenty times as much (NIH ODS, Vitamin E).
Did vitamin E raise prostate cancer risk in the SELECT trial?
After extended follow-up, men who took 400 IU of synthetic vitamin E daily had a statistically significant 17% higher prostate cancer risk. It did not prevent the disease. The trial had about 35,500 men (NIH ODS, Vitamin E).
Does the vitamin E in Protoflow interact with warfarin?
Large doses can raise bleeding risk with warfarin, and NIH puts the concern above 400 IU a day. The label has about 19 IU, but ginkgo in the formula adds its own flag, so ask your prescriber (NIH ODS, Vitamin E).
Who wrote this08
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the brand pages and linked NIH, FDA, FTC, NICE and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a USA authorized Protoflow retailer, not by the manufacturer or distributor, PhytoThrive Labs. We make money when you buy through our order links.
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