Niacin or nicotinic acid is a B vitamin.
15-30 milligrams of niacin are contained in an average American diet daily.
With treating blood cholesterol and triglyceride disorders there are necessary higher doses of nicotinic acid - about 1 to 3 grams per day.
Nicotinic acid is available in several preparations that include an immediate release of niacin, sustained release prescription brand Niaspan, and over- the- counter (OTC) sustained release niacin.
OTC preparations are not federally regulated, and some OTC preparations may have no active ingredient.
o But when it comes to either raising HDL cholesterol or lowering LDL, they proved to be pretty ineffective.
Liver toxicity and rare cases of fulminant hepatitis (fatal without liver transplantation) have been associated with niacin, sustained some formulations of OTC.
Without causing significant liver disease, the prescription brand sustained release Niaspan has been found in clinical trials to cause only some minor elevations in the blood liver enzymes.
Modestly effective in lowering LDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels and Lp(a) cholesterol, nicotinic acid is actually most effective when it comes to the increase in HDL cholesterol levels.
For individuals whose problem is low HDL cholesterol levels, nicotinic acid is most suited.
HDL cholesterol levels can be raised by 30 percent or more by the use of nicotinic acid alone.
When lowering LDL cholesterol levels, nicotinic acid is not as effective as a statin.
Most doctors use a statin to decrease the LDL cholesterol first if a patient suffers from low HDL cholesterol accompanied by high LDL cholesterol.
In order to further raise HDL cholesterol levels, nicotinic acid can be added to a statin.
Ezetimibe (Zetia) Ezetimibe is a medication that helps lower cholesterol levels by blocking the absorption of cholesterol (any kind - including dietary cholesterol) from the intestines.
Still, the absrption of triglycerides or fat-soluble vitamins is not affected by this medication.
In October 2002 the FDA approved Ezetimibe as a lowering cholesterol medication.
Either used together or with a statin drug, ezetimibe has shown great results in clinical tests.
It is modestly effective in lowering LDL cholesterol when used alone.
It can reduce LDL cholesterol by about 17 percent at a dose of 10 milligrams per day.
LDL cholesterol levels can be reduced further down, when ezetimibe is used with a statin, rather than when it is used as a statin alone.
However, the risks of heart attack of strokes remain unknown whether they are reduced even more with this combination or if it stays the same.
15-30 milligrams of niacin are contained in an average American diet daily.
With treating blood cholesterol and triglyceride disorders there are necessary higher doses of nicotinic acid - about 1 to 3 grams per day.
Nicotinic acid is available in several preparations that include an immediate release of niacin, sustained release prescription brand Niaspan, and over- the- counter (OTC) sustained release niacin.
OTC preparations are not federally regulated, and some OTC preparations may have no active ingredient.
o But when it comes to either raising HDL cholesterol or lowering LDL, they proved to be pretty ineffective.
Liver toxicity and rare cases of fulminant hepatitis (fatal without liver transplantation) have been associated with niacin, sustained some formulations of OTC.
Without causing significant liver disease, the prescription brand sustained release Niaspan has been found in clinical trials to cause only some minor elevations in the blood liver enzymes.
Modestly effective in lowering LDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels and Lp(a) cholesterol, nicotinic acid is actually most effective when it comes to the increase in HDL cholesterol levels.
For individuals whose problem is low HDL cholesterol levels, nicotinic acid is most suited.
HDL cholesterol levels can be raised by 30 percent or more by the use of nicotinic acid alone.
When lowering LDL cholesterol levels, nicotinic acid is not as effective as a statin.
Most doctors use a statin to decrease the LDL cholesterol first if a patient suffers from low HDL cholesterol accompanied by high LDL cholesterol.
In order to further raise HDL cholesterol levels, nicotinic acid can be added to a statin.
Ezetimibe (Zetia) Ezetimibe is a medication that helps lower cholesterol levels by blocking the absorption of cholesterol (any kind - including dietary cholesterol) from the intestines.
Still, the absrption of triglycerides or fat-soluble vitamins is not affected by this medication.
In October 2002 the FDA approved Ezetimibe as a lowering cholesterol medication.
Either used together or with a statin drug, ezetimibe has shown great results in clinical tests.
It is modestly effective in lowering LDL cholesterol when used alone.
It can reduce LDL cholesterol by about 17 percent at a dose of 10 milligrams per day.
LDL cholesterol levels can be reduced further down, when ezetimibe is used with a statin, rather than when it is used as a statin alone.
However, the risks of heart attack of strokes remain unknown whether they are reduced even more with this combination or if it stays the same.
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