Effects of Extended-Release Niacin on Lipoprotein Particle Size, Distribution, and Inflammatory Markers in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
While niacin has been known for a long time to be one of the few compounds used in a pharmacologic manner (soy, flax and exercise does as well–but these aren’t use in a pharmacologic approach), the beneficial subclass changes in the specific lipids in this study were quite surprising. Recall that we have further delved into the HDL and LDL molecules and found that these particles can be furthered subdivided, and that these subclasses can have even more dramatic abilities to predict heart disease risk.
Niacin in this study was found to raise the “best of the best” as large particle HDL by 32% and reduced the small particle LDL by 12% while also raising the large particle LDL by 82%. Taken together, these changes would suggest that niacin has a much greater ability to lower CVD risk than many other molecules available.
