DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 75-year-old male who has struggled for years getting my HDL cholesterol up above the minimum desired, even though I was taking over-the-counter nonflushing niacin. My doctor then convinced me to take prescription niacin, even though it was the same strength. It is quite expensive, but my HDL jumped from the mid-20s to the mid-40s. The only difference seems to be an ingredient to prevent flushing in the OTC variety.
This seems to nullify any value the niacin has, so why does the Food and Drug Administration allow OTC niacin with the antiflushing additive to be sold when it obviously does no good?
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