Effects of High-Dose Modified-Release Nicotinic Acid on Atherosclerosis and Vascular Function: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Objectives m was to determine the effects of high-dose (2 g) nicotinic acid (NA) on progression of atherosclerosis and measures of vascular function. ound ses high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and is widely used as an adjunct to statin therapy in patients with coronary artery disease. Although changes in plasma lipoproteins suggest potential benefit, there is limited evidence of the effects of NA on disease progression when added to contemporary statin treatment. s formed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 2 g daily modified-release NA added to statin therapy in 71 patients with low HDL-C (<40 mg/dl) and either: 1) type 2 diabetes with coronary heart disease; or 2) carotid/peripheral atherosclerosis. The primary end point was the change in carotid artery wall area, quantified by magnetic resonance imaging, after 1 year. s reased HDL-C by 23% and decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 19%. At 12 months, NA significantly reduced carotid wall area compared with placebo (adjusted treatment difference: −1.64 mm2 [95% confidence interval: −3.12 to −0.16]; p = 0.03). Mean change in carotid wall area was −1.1 ± 2.6 mm2 for NA versus +1.2 ± 3.0 mm2 for placebo. In both the treatment and placebo groups, larger plaques were more prone to changes in size (r = 0.4, p = 0.04 for placebo, and r = −0.5, p = 0.02 for NA). sions tin-treated patients with low HDL-C, high-dose modified-release NA, compared with placebo, significantly reduces carotid atherosclerosis within 12 months. (Oxford Niaspan Study: Effects of Niaspan on Atherosclerosis and Endothelial Function; NCT00232531)