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Niacin, when taken in large doses, blocks the breakdown of fats in adipose tissue, thus altering blood lipid levels.
'Good' cholesterol and 'bad' cholesterolNiacin is used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia because it reduces very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), a precursor of low density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol. Because Niacin blocks breakdown of fats, it causes a decrease in free fatty acids in the blood and consequently, decreased secretion of VLDL and cholesterol by the liver.
By lowering VLDL levels, niacin also increases the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol in blood, and therefore it is sometimes prescribed for patients with low HDL, who are also at high risk of a heart attack.
An extended release formulation of niacin for this indication is marketed by Abbott Laboratories under the trade name Niaspan.
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