Efficacy of hypolipidemic treatment in inhibition of experimental atherosclerosis: the effect of nicotinic acid and related compounds.

The hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic effects of different nicotinic acid derivatives were studied. Five rabbit groups maintained on an atherogenic diet were given simultaneously various nicotinic acid derivatives (50 mg/kg body weight/day): nicotinic acid, Xantinol-nicotinate, beta-pyridylcarbinol or Pirozadil (bis-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate, 2,6-pyridindiyldimethylene). All 4 compounds showed a clear hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic effect, as measured by serum cholesterol, and by planimetric evaluation of the aortic lesions in terms of percent surface area affected in the aortas and coronary lumen. The simultaneously observed elevation of the HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio of the aortic tissue possibly indicates an antiatherogenic effect of these changes.