Is niacin ineffective? Or did AIM-HIGH miss its target?
The AIM-HIGH trial (Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome With Low HDL/High Triglycerides: Impact on Global Health Outcomes) found, in an interim analysis, no cardiovascular benefit from taking extended-release niacin (Niaspan). In fact, there was a trend toward a greater risk of ischemic stroke, which did not reach statistical significance. But questions remain about this complex trial, which included intensive statin therapy in the active-treatment group and the control group.
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, USA. nichols1@ccf.org
Stephen J
SJ
Nicholls
D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000187:drug effects; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009525:Niacin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014280:Triglycerides; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D009525:Niacin