Compositions for protection against SVFS induced by niacin, a carcinoid, mesenteric traction, serotonin, post-menopause, alcohol, monosodium glutamate, mastocytosis, atopic dermatitis, food-allergy or food intolerance, and mast cell activation syndrome, or against individual symptoms of SVFS, superficial vasodilation, feeling of warmth, itching (pruritus) and hives, comprising a flavonoid compound of the structure 2-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran or 2-phenyl-4-keto-1-benzopyran or glycosides thereof, or chalconoid compounds, with appropriate substitutions of their hydroxyl groups to render them water soluble or in combination with a pshospholipid or cyclodextrin to render them to have higher oral absorption, administered alone or together with an anti-superficial vasodilation dose of one or more of, olive kernel oil, a serotonin inhibitor, a prostaglandin inhibitor, willow bark extract. A composition for treating cardiovascular disease with niacin, but without eliciting the SVFS effects of niacin, has also been invented.