Nicotinic acid: Do we know how it works after 55 years of clinical experience

Figure 1 How nicotinic acid decreases triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. NA: Nicotinic acid, TG: Triglycerides, LDL: Low density lipoprotein; FFA: Free fatty acids; VLDL: Very low density lipoprotein; DGAT2: Diacylglycerol acyl transferase 2; PGC-1β: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1β; apoC3: Apolipoprotein C3; apoB: Apolipoprotein B.

Figure 2 How nicotinic acid can increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol level. NA: Nicotinic acid; HDL: High density lipoprotein; VLDL: Very low density lipoprotein; LDL: Low density lipoprotein; CETP: Cholesterol ester transfer protein; ApoA1: Apolipoprotein A1; ABCA1: ATP-binding cassette protein A1.