I would like to report an interesting experience I've had regarding Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), along with a possible explanation.
I've suffered from DOMS most of my adult life. This is where you feel fine after exercising, but then about two days later, severe muscle pain (and weakness) sets in that can last up to about two weeks. It's very different from the garden-variety post-exercise pain, both in onset time, intensity, and duration.
A while back, I read that high levels of Histamine were being implicated as a possible cause of DOMS. It occurred to me that a Niacin flush releases Histamine, and so it might be a reasonable treatment to prevent DOMS. I began a protocol where I took 250 mg of Niacin (I chew a tablet, for rapid absorption) immediately after exercising. That's a large enough dose to reliably cause me to flush. Sure enough, from the very first time, it prevented the DOMS. I only had normal post-exercise pain -- and it was repeatable. For the first time in my adult life, I was able to exercise without paying a horrible price afterwards. Wonderful!
After a few months, I forgot my dose once, and found the DOMS didn't return. So, I weaned myself off, and did well without it. Then, just recently, after being on NMN for about 4 days (up to 625 mg/day), I felt quite a bit stronger, and so did more exercise than I usually do, and the DOMS recurred in full-force. (I also take NR, though I've been on it for months with no effect on DOMS).
My questions:
1. Are there other possible explanations for this effect that don't involve Histamine? For example, could it be related to mitochondria?
2. Given Niacin's biochemistry, is it possible NMN works against it in some way?
3. Any suggestions for how I might improve this approach?
I would also be interested in knowing if there are other DOMS-sufferers here who might be willing to try this approach with Niacin. I would love to know if it's repeatable, or if it's just something about my personal biochemistry.
Edited by AceNZ, 28 January 2019 - 09:15 PM.