DISSOCIATION OF THE EFFECTS OF NICOTINIC-ACID ON VASODILATATION AND LIPOLYSIS BY A PROSTAGLANDIN SYNTHESIS INHIBITOR, INDOMETHACIN, IN MAN

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (2) , 114-117
Abstract
The effects of nicotinic acid on plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration and forearm blood flow were studied in 7 healthy fasting volunteers with and without pretreatment by indomethacin to determine if some effects of nicotinic acid are mediated by release of endogenous prostaglandin. Nicotinic acid (1 g orally) decreased plasma FFA concentration to a lowest value of 1/4 of initial level and increased forearm blood flow 4 times. When the same dose of nicotinic acid was given after pretreatment with indomethacin, the blood flow increase was only 1/3 of that without indomethacin. Indomethacin did not alter the rapid initial decrease in plasma FFA, although the period of low FFA concentration was shortened and the rebound to supranormal concentration was abolished. The vasodilatory effect of nicotinic acid may be mediated by release of endogenous prostaglandin while the inhibition of lipolysis by the drug is mainly produced by other mechanisms.