Which lipid parameter is increased by niacin?

• A. LDL increases
• B. Triglycerides decrease
• C. HDL increases
• D. Total cholesterol decreases

Answer: (C)

Niacin raises HDL cholesterol. It does this mainly by reducing the liver’s clearance of HDL particles, which keeps more HDL circulating and increases the overall HDL level. In addition, niacin lowers triglycerides by decreasing hepatic VLDL production (driven by reduced fatty acid flux to the liver), and it can modestly reduce LDL as a result of less VLDL-derived LDL being produced. Total cholesterol may fall somewhat, but the parameter that actually increases with niacin is HDL.