The effects of different dose regimens of niceritrol of serum lipid concentrations in man.

The lipid-lowering effects of 3 g of the nicotinic acid derivative pentaerythritoltetranicotinate (niceritrol) given either 1 g X 3 or 1.5 g X 2 have been evaluated in 18 subjects with hyperlipoproteinaemia. When 1 g niceritrol was given three times daily, the serum TG concentration fell from 3.14 +/- 0.48 to 1.86 +/- 0.18 mmol/1 (41% reduction) and the serum cholesterol concentration from 282 +/- 9 to 227 +/- 11 mg/100 ml (20% reduction). The same daily dose, given 1.5 g twice, did not significantly lower the serum TG concentration, and serum cholesterol was lowered by only 12%. Niceritrol tablets prepared with a dissolution time of 60 or 90 min had identical lipid-lowering properties. Although patients may find it practical to take niceritrol only twice daily, such a dose regimen has considerably less effect on elevated serum lipids than a thrice-daily regimen.