Effect of nicotinic acid on plasma glucose concentration in normal individuals

In order to assess the ability of nicotinic acid to decrease plasma glucose concentration, normal individuals were given continuous four hour infusions of either nicotinic acid (NA), somatostatin (SRIF), NA + SRIF, or 0.9% NaCl (Saline). Plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration decreased to about one-fourth of the basal value in response to either NA or NA + SRIF, associated with statistically significant decreases in plasma glucose concentration. The ability of NA and NA + SRIF to decrease plasma glucose concentration was seen despite the fact that plasma insulin concentrations also fell significantly during both infusions. Although plasma glucose concentration fell significantly in response to both NA and NA + SRIF, the effect of NA + SRIF was approximately twice as great as that seen with NA alone. The augmented hypoglycaemic effect of NA + SRIF as compared to NA alone was associated with a concomitant fall in plasma glucagon concentration. In contrast, plasma glucose concentration did not change following Saline, and was actually higher than baseline after the infusion of SRIF alone. These results provide evidence that NA can lower plasma glucose concentration in normal volunteers, and suggests that this is mediated by the NA-associated decrease in plasma NEFA concentration.