title: Effects of niacin and Niaspan on HDL lipoprotein cellular SR-BI-mediated cholesterol efflux.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Niacin, the lipid-regulating agent with the longest therapeutic experience, has been demonstrated to both raise high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and to diminish the risk of atherosclerosis and its vascular complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was carried out to explore niacin's effect on scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)-mediated cholesterol efflux, a component of reverse cholesterol transport, using an in vitro model system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty frozen samples from a large randomized, multicenter trial comparing crystalline niacin, extended-release niacin (Niaspan), and placebo were analyzed for SR-BI efflux.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the extended-release and crystalline niacin demonstrated significant increases in HDL-C (approximately 50%) over baseline values compared to the placebo group (14%). This was associated with a significant increase in SR-BI efflux of 2.7% and 3.4% for extended-release niacin and niacin, respectively, compared to placebo (0.4%). Although, there was no relationship between HDL-C and SR-BI efflux at baseline or at the end of treatment, there was a linear relation between the changes in HDL-C and SR-BI efflux (r = 0.58, P < 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that niacin has a beneficial effect on SR-BI efflux that is related to the change in level of HDL-C.
authors.affiliation: The Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, 100 E. Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19096, USA and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Llera-Moya
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Capuzzi