Nicotinic Acid: A Review of Its Clinical Use in the Treatment of Lipid Disorders

Nicotinic acid (niacin) is a water‐soluble vitamin widely used for the treatment of lipid disorders. In pharmacologic doses (1 g or more/day), alone or in combination with other lipid‐lowering drugs, nicotinic acid lowers very low‐density (VLDL) and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, while concurrently increasing high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. It may reduce long‐term mortality in patients with known coronary artery disease and may slow or reverse the progression of atherosclerosis. A major consideration against using nicotinic acid is the occurrence of frequent, bothersome, adverse reactions such as cutaneous flushing, skin rash, and gastric upset. Careful dosing titration may, however, minimize these effects. The beneficial effects, taken together with the low cost of nicotinic acid therapy and the relative freedom from serious side effects, have made nicotinic acid the agent of choice for the treatment of many patients with hyperlipidemia.