In Baltimore, 145 men and women over the age of 65 with atherosclerosis were tested by experts from Johns Hopkins to see if dual niacin-statin therapy was more effective than traditional cholesterol-lowering therapy. Some doctors believe that niacin, often referred to as vitamin B3, can add benefit in correcting arterial narrowing when combined with statins, which are the drugs used in conventional cholesterol treatment.
"Our recommendation to physicians is that current national treatment guidelines, which recommend mainly statin therapy tailored to the severity of atherosclerosis for preventing arteries from reclogging and narrowing, appear to be sufficient and accurate for physicians and patients to follow," said Dr Joao Lima of Johns Hopkins.
The Mayo Clinic says atherosclerosis is caused by a build up of fat on artery walls that restricts blood flow. This heart condition is both preventable and treatable, but experts say that more than 400,000 people die of coronary artery disease each year nonetheless.
© Copyright
Categories: