EVALUATION OF NICOTINIC ACID AS AN HYPOCHOLESTEREMIC AND ANTI-ATHEROGENIC SUBSTANCE *

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Abstract
Ingestion of nicotinic acid was not found to alter the rate of intestinal absorption of cholesterol or total lipid in the rat. No change either was observed in the rate of hepatic synthesis of cholesterol (as measured by the biliary cholesterol assay method) or in the biliary secretion of bile acid in the rat administered nicotinic acid. Finally, when the intake of a high fat-cholesterol diet was controlled in both the treated and control animal, the ingestion of nicotinic acid did not hinder the expected onset of hypercholesteremia. Rabbits pair-fed a high cholesterol-fat diet with and without nicotinic acid failed to exhibit a significant difference either in their average plasma cholesterol or in their degree of aortic atherosclerosis. It is suggested that the previously observed hypocholesteremic and atherosclerosis preventing properties of nicotinic acid may be due to an anoretic effect. The possible influence of this substance both upon the quantity and the quality of food taken by human subjects eating under noncontrolled conditions is discussed.