Treatment with a statin and niacin may reverse coronary artery disease, the American Heart Association's annual conference was told on November 13. Dr Greg Brown (cardiologist, University of Washington school of medicine, United States) said that the conclusion had been drawn from a three-year study of 160 patients who had low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL). Patients were divided into four groups and received a statin and niacin, antioxidants, all three treatments, or no treatment (a control group). Benefits were reported for patients receiving both a statin and niacin. Angiograms for these patients showed no additional plaque build-up and, in many patients, the amount of plaque was reduced. Levels of HDL were increased while levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) fell. This result could be explained by the fact that statins lowered LDL levels and niacin (also known as vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid) raised HDL levels. Dr Brown commented: "What you expect with statins is a slowing of the disease progression but not a stopping. Arteries continue to get narrower but not as fast. But when niacin is combined with a statin, the artery blocking actually improves, on average. What we saw was a reversal of the disease." The study gave less positive results for antioxidants. It showed that the antioxidants used, including vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and selenium, had no effect on cardiovascular outcomes.