Nicotinic acid enhances the production of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha in human whole blood in vitro.

The effect of nicotinic acid on the synthesis of arachidonic acid metabolites in human whole blood has been examined by stimulation with exogenous and endogenous arachidonic acid substrate. In both cases there was an increase in the production of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha which was statistically significant at 10 micrograms ml-1 (p less than 0.01) and 100 micrograms ml-1 (p less than 0.001) with endogenous arachidonic acid. This increase is markedly enhanced at nicotinic acid levels of 1000 and 2000 micrograms ml-1 following stimulation with exogenous arachidonic acid (p less than 0.01).