Oxford Niaspan Study

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

To assess the effects of high dose niacin on the progression of atherosclerosis.

Oxford Niaspan study was a double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 2 g daily modified-release in 71 patients with HDL-C levels less than 40 mg/dL and either: 1) type 2 diabetes with coronary heart disease; or 2) carotid/peripheral atherosclerosis. All the patients were on an additional statin therapy. The change in carotid artery wall area was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging after 1 year.

Niacin increased HDL-C by 23% and reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 19% and at 12 months niacin significantly reduced carotid wall area compared with placebo.

Compared with placebo, treatment with high-dose modified-release niacin along with statin therapy significantly reduced carotid atherosclerosis within 12 months.^[1]