Agent
appears to cut blood fats, reducing risk of heart disease
Researchers
at U of Texas Southwestern medical Center in Dallas in Dallas, writing
in the Archives of Internal Medicine, said they based their findings
on a study of 146 diabetes patients who were given either the
extended-release niacin drug at two levels of strength or an inert
placebo.
The
intent of the study was to test the effects of niacin on a condition
called dyslipidemia, which causes bad concentrations of triglyceride
and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol — or "bad"
cholesterol — and low levels of the "good" cholesterol
known as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
The
authors said the condition contributes to a two- to four-fold
increased risk of coronary heart disease in those with adult onset
diabetes compared to those without the disease.
The
study found that "good" cholesterol increased between 13
percent and 24 percent depending on the strength of doses, that
triglyceride was also reduced at high dose levels and that
"bad" cholesterol levels also fell.
"This
targeted approach may represent the best treatment strategy for
achieving substantial reductions in the high and growing incidence of
(heart disease) among patients with diabetes."
The
authors said extended-release niacin may be considered for use with
statins — widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs — or
"in some cases, without statins."
ADA Publication date: 2002-07-22
DID
YOU KNOW
On
average, each 10 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure was
associated with a 12% decrease in the risk of any diabetes-related
endpoint and also fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction and a 17%
reduction in the risk of death related to diabetes; even patients with
only moderately elevated blood pressure showed increased risk. 11.
Adler AI, Stratton IM, Neil HAW, et al. Association of systolic blood
pressure with macrovascular and microvascular complications of type 2
diabetes (UKPDS 36): prospective observational study. BMJ. 2000;321:412-419.
