Beta-carotene + Niacin, Simvastatin
Niacin, Simvastatin brand name: Simcor.
Beta-carotene has a minor interaction with Niacin, Simvastatin. Beta-carotene might decrease the beneficial effects of niacin on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.
Read the full interaction reportBeta-carotene and Niacin, Simvastatin
Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.
NIACIN
A combination of niacin and simvastatin (Zocor) effectively raises high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in patients with coronary disease and low HDL levels. Clinical research shows that taking a combination of antioxidants (beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium) along with niacin and simvastatin attenuates this rise in HDL, specifically the HDL-2 and apolipoprotein A1 fractions, by more than 50% in patients with coronary disease. It is not known whether this adverse effect is due to a single antioxidant such as beta-carotene, or to the combination. It also is not known whether it will occur in other patient populations.
Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
Here's the gist with your Simcor (that's niacin plus simvastatin). One of the big perks of this combo is that it nudges your good cholesterol (HDL) upward, which is helpful when you have heart disease and low HDL. In a high-quality study, adding a mix of antioxidants (beta-carotene along with vitamins C and E and selenium) blunted that HDL boost by more than half. So the concern is that beta-carotene could work against one of the benefits you're taking this medicine for.
A couple of honest caveats: the effect came from a combination of antioxidants, so we can't pin it all on beta-carotene alone, and getting beta-carotene from colorful fruits and veggies is a different story than high-dose pills. Before adding any antioxidant supplement, run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.
- Brown BG, Zhao XQ, Chait A, et al. Simvastatin and niacin, antioxidant vitamins, or the combination for the prevention of coronary disease. N Engl J Med 2001;345:1583-93. DOI
- Cheung MC, Zhao XQ, Chait A, et al. Antioxidant supplements block the response of HDL to simvastatin-niacin therapy in patients with coronary artery disease and low HDL. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2001;21:1320-6. PubMed
What These Ratings Mean
Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
- ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
- PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
- UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
- AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
- BCase-control study.
- CConsensus.
- DAnecdotal evidence.
These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
Beta-carotene Also Interacts With Other Medications
Beta-carotene has 2 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Niacin, Simvastatin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Beta-carotene
We haven’t checked that one against Beta-carotene yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Beta-carotene. Pick one to open its full report.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Niacin, Simvastatin
This page covers Beta-carotene only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Niacin, Simvastatin page lists 187 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).
By severity: 8 major · 140 moderate · 39 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Niacin, Simvastatin page
“Simcor combines niacin with simvastatin to lower cholesterol, and its interaction list deserves genuine care. Simvastatin is cleared by the CYP3A4 enzyme, and well over a hundred of these ingredients can push its blood level up or drag it down through that pathway.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Taking Beta-carotene as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 11 real supplement products containing Beta-carotene, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Beta-carotene. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Niacin, Simvastatin too, on top of Beta-carotene — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Beta-carotene and Niacin, Simvastatin Sit Against Everything Else
Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.
#1,305 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#972 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.
About Beta-carotene
What is Beta-carotene?
- Vitamin A source
- Eye and vision health
- Antioxidant support
- Skin health
- General wellness
Beta-carotene is a plant pigment that the body can convert into vitamin A and that also acts as an antioxidant. Getting it from colorful fruits and vegetables is considered safe and healthy, but high-dose supplements have been linked to a higher lung cancer risk in smokers and people exposed to asbestos, so most people should not take large amounts.
Other Drugs & Beta-carotene
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Beta-carotene — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
2 interactions
No interaction 2,827 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Beta-carotene against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Sertraline ›
- Testosterone ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Aspirin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Docusate ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Prednisone ›
- Propranolol ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Metformin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Bupropion ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Letrozole ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Naproxen ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,827 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Beta-carotene list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.
Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Niacin, Simvastatin Is Linked to Lower Levels of 3 Nutrients
Natural Medicines records Niacin, Simvastatin as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Beta-carotene — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Read the full Niacin, Simvastatin nutrient depletion report ›
Beta-carotene is itself a nutrient we track — see which medications may deplete BETA-CAROTENE.
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Beta-carotene and Niacin, Simvastatin Together: Common Questions
Can you take Beta-carotene with Niacin, Simvastatin?
How serious is the Beta-carotene and Niacin, Simvastatin interaction?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.