Extended-release wax-matrix nicotinic acid supports cardiovascular health, study shows

Summary

This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, completed by University of Minnesota researcher Joseph Keenan, M.D., in collaboration with researchers at the National Research Centre for Preventive Medicine in Moscow, Russia, compared the effect of extended-release, wax-matrix nicotinic acid (WMNA) or lovastatin (Mevacor®) in patients with dyslipidemia in both a fasting state and after a fatty meal challenge.

For this study, researchers enrolled 62 men with dyslipidemia and known CAD or suspected CAD from clinical symptoms and EKG. All subjects were asked to follow the American Heart Association’s Step 1 Diet for 6 weeks prior to randomization. The men were then randomly assigned to one of three groups: diet only (control), diet plus WMNA (1,500 mg/day), or diet plus lovastatin (20 mg/day) for 6 months. (If therapeutic goals were not met at 3 months, WMNA was increased to 2,000 mg/day and lovastatin to 40 mg/day.)

A total of 93% (58/62) subjects completed the study. One dropped out for reasons unrelated to treatment; three dropped out because of intolerance to WMNA. Blood chemistry remained normal in all subjects.

After 6 months, the men showed significant (P<.05) improvements in fasting lipid levels with WMNA that were comparable to those achieved with lovastatin: total cholesterol (-23% vs. -25%), triglycerides (-24% vs. -37%), LDL (-31% vs. -26%) and HDL (+7% vs. +14%).

Similar significant (P<.05) changes were reported in 6-hour post-prandial lipid changes with WMNA comparable to lovastatin: total cholesterol (-21% vs. -22%), triglycerides (-36% vs. -37%), LDL (-34% vs. -30%) and HDL (+33% vs. +30%). Diet alone (control) had no significant effect on lipid profiles.

These findings indicate that WMNA therapy improves lipid profiles in men with dyslipidemia in a manner comparable to lovastatin therapy.