Niacin, or nicotinic acid has a healthy effect on the blood fats, which is important to the person with coronary artery disease. Niacin can lower the "bad" cholesterol in the blood, elevate the "good" cholesterol and decrease triglycerides.

Our FAQ will be centrated on that specific theme.

Niacin, or nicotinic acid has a healthy effect on the blood fats, which is important to the person with coronary artery disease. Niacin can lower the "bad" cholesterol in the blood, elevate the "good" cholesterol and decrease triglycerides.

The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.

Cholesterol.

Good and Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a white, waxy substance your body needs to form cell membranes and many hormones. Enough cholesterol is produced by the body to meet all its needs. Eating foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fat can cause high levels of cholesterol to accumulate in the blood. Cholesterol is transported in the blood by lipoproteins. Most of the cholesterol is carried by low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This is sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol because together with fat and other particles, it can cause a thick coating of plaque to form on the walls of the arteries. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, is a major health risk. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is often called the "good" cholesterol because it transports the cholesterol back to the liver, where it is processed for removal through the bile.

High and Low Levels

Cholesterol is measured by the number of milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dl) of blood. The numbers will fall into one of three ranges, as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and listed on the front of this chart. If your total blood cholesterol level is high, your doctor will probably want to obtain a measurement of your LDL levels. LDL levels greater than 130 mg/dl are considered a health risk. Cholesterol testing involves taking a sample of blood either from your finger or arm and should be done by a health professional in a hygenic medical setting. The sample should then be sent to a competent and experienced laboratory for analysis.

How to Lower Cholesterol

If you have high blood cholesterol, your doctor will advise you to chance your diet so that you eat fewer foods that are high in cholesterol and saturated fats. Cholesterol is found only in animal products. Animal products are also the primary source of saturated fats, although a few vegetable oils--coconut, palm, and palm kernel--do contain saturated fats. It is generally recommended that you consume no more than 300 mg of cholesterol each day and that no more than 30% of your total calories come from fats, with no more than one-third of that (10% of total calories) coming from saturated fats. If dietary changes do not lower cholesterol sufficiently, your doctor may prescribe medication. Maintaining a desirable weight can also help lower LDL and exercise may help raise the level of HDL, the "good" cholesterol.

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Last Updated: May 1, 2000