An IMPORTANT Study - High Cholesterol Message Board

Lenin · 05-13-2005, 09:13 AM

I was researching the effects of adding Niacin to my statin which I'm managing in vanishly small increments...up to 250mg. X 3 taken on a full stomach.
I want to keep my HDL as high as I can get it because it tends to be low.
I know that niacin will raise the HDL but I wanted to see more specifics regarding which fraction would be raised most, HDL2 (larger lighter particles) being more beneficial than the small dense HDL3.
I stumbled on an NIH sponsored study throwing antioxidant vitamins into the mix.
[url]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_u ids=11498460&dopt=Abstract[/url]

As I had hoped, niacin doubly helps the picture by creatingmore HDL and mayby more importantly, more light HDL and lighter LDL (beneficial Pattern A) but the startling data suggests strongly that the benefits are prevented by the addition of Vitamin C, E, A and selenium. In fact the rather wonderful 42% increase in HDL2 for the statin + niacin group was reduced to ZERO when antioxidants were added.

Good Lord, the ramifications of this are really worrisome. Thank God the full text of this article is available FREE! It's a nice service that our taxes are paying for!

mg_health · 05-13-2005, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenin

As I had hoped, niacin doubly helps the picture by creating more light HDL and lighter LDL (beneficial Pattern A) but the startling data suggests strongly that the benefits are prevented by the addition of Vitamin C, E, A and selenium.

Studies have proven that people who take too much supplemental vitamins over a period of time have a larger risk of developing cancer and heart disease. This is why I always only take half of the recommended dose suggested on the vitamin package labels.

linda115 · 05-13-2005, 09:58 AM

I posted this on another thread recently. You may want to add this to your research on Niacin & Statin.

Please take a look at this link to check on drug interaction.
[url]http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Interaction/ChooseDrugs/1,4109,,00.html[/url]

I entered ZOCOR and NIACIN, this is what it says,

NIACIN may interact with SIMVASTATIN (in Zocor)

Although the cause of this potential interaction is not clearly understood, using niacin and simvastatin at the same time could cause a serious or potentially life-threatening side effect that involves the destruction of muscle tissue and could lead to kidney failure. These drugs should generally not be used together unless your doctor is monitoring you very closely. Promptly report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness to your doctor. Ask your healthcare provider about these drugs and this potential interaction as soon as possible.

This interaction is poorly documented and is considered major in severity.

SIMVASTATIN (in Zocor) may interact with GRAPEFRUIT JUICE

Grapefruit juice may block the breakdown of simvastatin in the intestines and thus more simvastatin may get absorbed into the bloodstream. Increased blood levels of simvastatin could cause a serious or potentially life-threatening side effect that involves the destruction of muscle tissue and could lead to kidney failure. Avoid taking simvastatin with any form of grapefruit, including the actual fruit as well as drinks and nutritional supplements that contain grapefruit juice. Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is poorly documented and is considered major in severity.

ARIZONA73 · 05-13-2005, 10:23 AM

Lenin,

Well, if they really wanted to do a thorough study, they should have included a third group. They only looked at two groups, those who took both niacin and a statin, and those who took niacin, statins, and antioxidants. They should also have included those who took only niacin and antioxidants. Wouldn't you agree?

I find it very hard to believe that antioxidants have a negative impact on HDL. In fact, nearly all of the antioxidants mentioned are supposed to have a favorable impact on HDL. I have personally taken niacin along with high doses of these antioxidants for many years, and my HDL has gone nowhere except up. Well, so much for their findings! If HDL was adversely impacted when antioxidants were added to the statin-niacin group, my guess would be that it was probably due to some kind of interaction with the statin, because antioxidants to not drive down HDL levels by themselves.

Lenin · 05-13-2005, 10:25 AM

Linda,

Both are true with caveats. The liver stress is due to the fact that both niacin and statins are metabolized and do much of their work in the liver. Studies are shown that the concern may be overblown for lower dose statins and lower dose niacin, and a lot of doctors are recommending the combo it for their patients with persisten low HDL.

On the grapefruit issue, it takes a LOT of grapefruit juice to cause a problem, and is virtually impossible with the fruit...but a quart or more of juice might cause problems.

What should REALLY be warned about is the HORRIBLE interaction of statin + macrolide antibiotic...I thought I was in BIG trouble when last that was prescribed.