Niacin Type Matters for Cholesterol Effects

ALLENDALE, N.J.Wax-matrix, extended-release niacin, a B vitamin, lowered cholesterol better than a different form of niacin known as  inositol hexanicotinate (IHN) in a recent study (J Clin Lipidol. 2013 Jan;7(1):14-23).

Researchers from the University of Minnesota discovered IHN was similar to placebo in controlling cholesterol, but the wax-matrix, extended-release niacin reduced total cholesterol by 11 percent, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 18 percent and non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by 15 percent (P < .001). The wax-matrix, extended-release niacin also increased HDL cholesterol by 12 percent.

The study was conducted by Joseph M. Keenan, M.D., and consisted of a clinical examination of 120 participants with high cholesterol and comparing the extended release form of niacin to IHN and a placebo.

All participants were under a heart-healthy diet and researchers monitored each person for diet, medication side effects, blood chemistries, blood lipids and dosing compliance. Five participants were also randomly picked for a pharmaco-kinetic sub-study, where the absorption rate and metabolism of the participants after taking 500 mg of Niamax (from Lonza) and IHN were measured through a serious of blood tests for eight hours.

According to the researchers, previous studies involving the usage of wax-matrix niacin showed 15 percent of participants were extremely sensitive to niacin and preferred a lower than typical therapeutic dose. The blood chemistry monitoring on the five random participants showed an increase in liver enzymes within the normal range and deemed as not clinically significant.

Keenan said IHN has been a popular choice for niacin therapy, especially by alternative health providers, but there had never been a controlled study of IHN conducted on the population in the United States. He added the studies conducted throughout Europe were combination interventions that made it difficult to find the lipid benefits from IHN.

"This study concluded that the nicotinic acid in IHN is not bioavailable, and theres no evidence that it reaches the therapeutic levels needed to alter lipids," Keenan added.

Steve Myers wrote an article highlighting the main issues, components and natural ingredients of cholesterol. This INSIDER Slide Show also offers more information on ingredients for managing cholesterol.