Nicotinic acid (niacin) has long been used for the treatment of lipid disorders and
cardiovascular disease. Niacin favorably affects apolipoprotein (apo) B–containing
lipoproteins (eg, very-low-density lipoprotein [VLDL], low-density lipoprotein [LDL],
lipoprotein [a]) and increases apo AI–containing lipoproteins (high-density lipoprotein
[HDL]). Recently, new discoveries have enlarged our understanding of the mechanism of
action of niacin and challenged older concepts. There are new data on (1) how niacin affects …

It is generally accepted that the increased concentrations of apolipoprotein (apo) B
containing very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and
decreased levels of apo AI containing high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are correlated to
atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Current evidence indicates that the post-
translational apo-B degradative processes regulate the hepatic assembly and secretion of
VLDL and the subsequent generation of LDL particles. The availability of triglycerides (TG) …