Niacin can help control triglyceride levels in the bloodstream, but only if it makes it there.

As we start to learn more about the functions and processes of metabolism, we identify specific compounds that have a role in given activities. For example, niacin is “effective in lowering elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.”  Knowing this is only the first step, however, because the next trick is to get the niacin from outside the body into the blood. One thing that could help is the formulation of an extended-release niacin pill. Anytime a new drug or supplement is formulated, the developers need to quantify the stability of the new formulation. Often, a stability chamber is the tool of choice, but a laboratory incubator can be co-opted to do the job as well.

For further information visit www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

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