How does nicotinic acid reduce cholesterol?

Nicotinic acid or niacin, one of the water-soluble B vitamins, improves all lipoproteins when given in doses well above the vitamin requirement. Nicotinic acid lowers the total cholesterol, “bad” LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, while raising the “good” HDL-cholesterol level.

What are the effects of niacin on VLDL LDL and HDL levels?

In pharmacologic doses, niacin reduces total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels.

How does niacin reduce VLDL?

Niacin indirectly affects LDL-C by reducing synthesis of the LDL precursor, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). It decreases the mobilization of free fatty acids from adipose tissue and the resultant decrease in triglyceride levels reduces hepatic synthesis and triglyceride content of VLDL.

Does niacin raise LDL?

Why do people take niacin? As a cholesterol treatment, there are good studies showing that niacin can boost levels of good HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides. Niacin also modestly lowers bad LDL cholesterol.

What is the mechanism of action of niacin when it is used to treat hyperlipidemia?

The mechanism of action of niacin to raise HDL is by decreasing the fractional catabolic rate of HDL-apo AI without affecting the synthetic rates. Additionally, niacin selectively increases the plasma levels of Lp-AI (HDL subfraction without apo AII), a cardioprotective subfraction of HDL in patients with low HDL.

What is the mechanism of action for niacin?

Mechanism of Action: niacin inhibits a hormone-sensitive lipase in adipose tissue which reduces the breakdown of triglycerides to free fatty acids, and the transport of free fatty acids to the liver.

What is the mechanism of action of niacin?

Does niacin lower cholesterol levels?

Niacin is a B-vitamin. When taken as a prescription in larger doses, it can help lower cholesterol and other fats in your blood. Niacin helps: Raise HDL (good) cholesterol.

How do fibrates work to lower cholesterol?

Fibrates lower blood triglyceride levels by reducing the liver’s production of VLDL (the triglyceride-carrying particle that circulates in the blood) and by speeding up the removal of triglycerides from the blood.