A small study published in The New England Journal of Medicine compared the effectiveness of two drugs used in combination with a statin (Simvastatin or Atorvastatin) to control cholesterol levels. The participants were randomly assigned into two groups, one group took Abbott Laboratories extended-release niacin, the other was given Merck and Schering-Plough’s ezetimibe (Zetia).

The 14-month study found using niacin to be superior to ezetimibe. Patients taking niacin increased their HDL levels by 18.4%, decreased their LDL significantly and had a significant regression of carotid intima–media (arterial wall) thickness.  Patients taking ezetimibe had a decrease of 19.2% in their LDL ,but the patients’ arterial wall thickness stayed the same. The incidence of major cardiovascular events was significantly lower in the niacin group (1%) than in the ezetimibe group ( 5%).

The study was financed by Abbott Laboratories.