RESUMO
Objective: Study was planned to examine the effects of Niacin [Vitamin B-3] on serum LDL Cholesterol levels
Patients and Methods: Study was conducted at department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC], Karachi, from January 2002 to July 2002. Forty hyperlipidemic patients were included, among which 20 patients were on placebo as control group and 20 were on tablet Niacin, 2 gram daily, in divided doses for a period of three months. Patients with diabetes mellitus, peptic ulcer, renal disease, hepatic disease, hypothyroidism and alcoholism were excluded from the study. Serum LDL-cholesterol was calculated by Friedwald formula [LDL-Cholesterol Total Cholesterol-[Triglycerides/5 +HDL-Cholesterol] described by Delong et al [1986] and Beamount et al [1970]. Data were expressed as the mean +/- SD and "t" test was applied to determine statistical significance of the difference. A probability value of <0.05 was the limit of significance
Results: Three patients were dropped from the study due to side effects of Niacin. Niacin decreased the levels of LDL-Cholesterol froml82.58+/-8.74 mg/dl to 119.29+/-4.08 mg/dl, which was highly significant [p<0.001], when compared statistically by paired "t" test. Overall percentage [%] changes from day-0 to day-90 were -34.66
Conclusion: Niacin decreases the risk of CHD by decreasing LDL-Cholesterol