Lower Cholesterol Effectively – Zetia Versus Niacin
It often feels like pharmaceutical companies often get wrapped up in dollar signs and forget the bottom-line reason for manufacturing the medication – improving your health. A study compared the effectiveness of Niacin versus Zetia.
The study
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine this past November 2009. Researchers analyzed the effect of extended-release niacin and ezetimibe (Zetia) on LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels.
Patients with coronary heart disease and receiving long-term statin therapy were enrolled in the study. Study participants were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg ezetimibe per day or 2000 mg extended-release niacin (vitamin B3) per day in addition to their statin medication. Arterial plaque was evaluated by measuring the carotid intima-media thickness.
The results
After 14 months, HDL cholesterol increased 18.4% in individuals receiving niacin. Individuals receiving niacin also experienced reductions in triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol decreased 19.2% for those receiving ezetimibe. Those receiving ezetimibe had reduced triglyceride levels, but their HDL levels dropped also (not good). Remember, HDL cholesterol is typically considered good and the higher your levels the better (although there are exceptions). Individuals in the niacin group had a greater improvement in mean carotid intima-media thickness (reduced arterial plaque) versus the ezetimibe group.
Also, individuals in the extended-release niacin group had fewer adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart attacks and heart disease related deaths.
The study was actually terminated early due to the positive results seen with niacin and negative impact of ezetimibe. Researchers concluded that the use of extended-release niacin results in a significant decrease of arterial plaque when combined with a statin and that niacin is superior to ezetimibe.
Pharmaceutical companies are not necessarily thrilled by these results because niacin is not a costly medication and does not lead to high profits. Niacin isn’t even really a medication. It’s a vitamin. This study re-enforces just how much nutrition and nutritional supplements have a drastic impact on your heart health.
If you haven’t already completed the free e-course How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps be sure to sign-up at http://www.lowercholesterolwithlisa.com.
Please share your comments below.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
http://www.lisanelsonrd.com
I bought Niacin two years ago, is it still usable? What foods are high in Niacin so I need not buy vi tamins which is also expensive for seniors. I am 72 and my sister who is my roommate is 78. She recently had done an ERCP because she had stones from the gallbladder who came out of the bladder and blocked the drainage of the gall bladder. She had only local anesthesia so the couldn’t take out the two stones but put in a stent to drain into the intestines. She got over her jaundice but she has to eat very low fat
only two teaspoons of oil a day
So what food is has Niacin and would that help her and me. Our cholestrol is normal.
Love your articles.
Personally I take 250mg of the product SloNiacin that is also a slow release product over 12 hours. This has increased my HDL by 20% and my LDL is almost down to 100. I balance this product with a healthy diet and exercise and other supplements. These include fish oil capsules from Allergy Research Group, Vitamin D3, and a low level multi-vitamin. So far, I have been in the healthy blood/trigl/bloodpressure group for 2 years. I refuse to take and don’t need Statin drugs.
Very interesting article. I’m currently on 80 mg of Crestor after taking other statins that didn’t help that much. When I go back to the Doctor I’m going to tell her about this study.