Dissociation of the effects of nicotinic acid on vasodilatation and lipolysis by a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin, in man.

The effects of nicotinic acid on plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration and forearm blood flow were studied in seven healthy fasting volunteers with and without pretreatment by indomethacin to see if some effects of nicotinic acid are mediated by release of endogenous prostaglandin. 1 g of nicotinic acid per os decreased plasma FFA concentration to a lowest value of 1/4 of initial level and increased forearm blood flow four times. When the same dose of nicotinic acid was given after pretreatment with indomethacin, the blood flow increase was only 1/3 of that without indomethacin. Indomethacin did not alter the rapid initial decrease in plasma FFA, although the period of low FFA concentration was shortened and the rebound to supranormal concentration was abolished. Thus the vasodilatory effect of nicotinic acid seems to be mediated by release of endogenous prostaglandin while the inhibition of lipolysis by the drug is mainly produced by other mechanisms.