Effects of niacin and omega-3 fatty acids on HDL-apolipoprotein A-I exchange in subjects with metabolic syndrome

HDL-apolipoprotein A-I exchange (HAE) measures a functional property associated with HDL's ability to mediate reverse cholesterol transport. HAE has been used to examine HDL function in case-control studies but not in studies of therapeutics that alter HDL particle composition. This study investigates whether niacin and omega-3 fatty acids induce measurable changes in HAE using a cohort of fifty-six subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS) who were previously recruited to a double-blind trial where they were randomized to 16 weeks of treatment with dual placebo, extended-release niacin (ERN, 2g/day), prescription omega-3 ethyl esters (P-OM3, 4g/day), or the combination. HAE was assessed at the beginning and end of the study. Compared to placebo, ERN and P-OM3 alone significantly increased HAE by 15.1% [8.2, 22.0] (P