Issue 115 Item 4 Niacin Drug Found Effective in Raising Good Cholesterol 24-Perc

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