Evaluation of effects of unmodified niacin on fasting and postprandial plasma lipids in normolipidemic men with hypoalphalipoproteinemia

Abstract purpose: The aim of this study was to define the effects of unmodified niacin on basal lipids and lipoproteins and on the plasma triglyceride response to a fatty meal—postprandial or alimentary lipemia—in individuals with low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and normal fasting cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations (normolipidemic hypoalphalipoproteinemia, isolated low HDL-C). patients and methods: Twenty-eight normolipidemic men (total plasma cholesterol concentration [TC] Outcome measures included changes in plasma lipoproteins and alimentary lipemia. results: Fifteen participants completed the study. Mean baseline HDL-C ±SD was 31.7 ± 6.2 mg/dL (0.82 ± 0.16 mmol/L). Mean baseline TC, plasma concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and Tg were 192 ± 29.4 mg/dL (4.97 ± 0.76 mmol/L), 123 ± 27 mg/dL (3.17 ± 0.69 mmol/L), and 197 ± 75 mg/dL (2.17 ± 0.83 mmol/L), respectively. Unmodified niacin treatment resulted in significant ( P 2 cholesterol (from 5 mg/dL to 9 mg/dL, 0.12 mmol/L to 0.24 mmol/L), and 21% in HDL 3 cholesterol (from 27 mg/dL to 33 mg/dL, 0.70 mmol/L to 0.85 mmol/L). Unmodified niacin treatment reduced alimentary lipemia by 45% ( P conclusions: Crystalline niacin effectively raises HDL-C, lowers LDL-C, and reduces alimentary lipemia in patients with isolated low HDL-C. However, many patients have difficulty tolerating the drug, and supervision may be required to sustain patient compliance and avoid toxicity.