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Published on: April 26, 2019
Cholesterol and glycemic effects of Niaspan in patients with type 2 diabetes
M P Kane1, R A Hamilton, E Addesse
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Albany College of Pharmacy, New York 12208, USA. kanem@acp.edu
Study Objective:
To determine the effect of Niaspan--a niacin preparation with both immediate- and extended-release characteristics--on lipid and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Design:
Retrospective study
Setting:
Private-practice endocrinology group.
Patients:
Thirty-two patients (mean age 60 yrs; 72% men) with type 2 diabetes identified by a computerized text search.
Intervention:
Patients received Niaspan 1000, 1500, or 2000 mg/day (median daily dosage 1000 mg).
Measurements And Main Results:
Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c, and transaminase levels were compared for each patient before and 6 months after initiation of Niaspan. Niaspan therapy was associated with a significant 34% increase in HDL (p=0.033), a significant 36% reduction of triglycerides (p=0.049), and no significant change in LDL (p=0.236) or total cholesterol (p=0.122). Mean hemoglobin A1c levels significantly decreased from baseline by 0.5 +/- 0.3% (p=0.032), even though dosages and treatment with antidiabetic agents remained constant. There were no significant changes in transaminase levels. Seven patients (21.9%) discontinued Niaspan; one of them experienced an increase in blood glucose while receiving the agent.
Conclusion:
For most patients with type 2 diabetes, Niaspan is a safe and effective therapy for dyslipidemia and does not exacerbate glycemic control.
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