Plasma niacin is inversely associated with hyperlipidemia in participants with diabetes among Chinese adults

Evidence is limited regarding the association of plasma niacin with the risk of hyperlipidemia in participants with diabetes. We aimed to determine the relationship between plasma niacinamide/nicotinic acid and hyperlipidemia in participants with/without diabetes. Plasma niacinamide/nicotinic acid concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between plasma niacin and hyperlipidemia in participants with diabetes and nondiabetes in a cross-sectional study. Compared to the first quartile, plasma nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, and niacin (nicotinamide plus nicotinic acid) were associated with a 54%, 50%, and 52% lower risk of hyperlipidemia in diabetic participants, respectively, but no significant association was observed in nondiabetic participants. These inverse associations persisted across subgroups stratified by sex, age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. In addition, the fully adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia among diabetic participants were 0.54 (0.38, 0.77) and 0.61 (0.44, 0.85), respectively, when comparing to the first quartile of plasma niacin concentrations (all P_trend < .001). This study of 2647 participants observed that plasma niacin was inversely associated with hyperlipidemia in those with diabetes.