Question: I have high cholesterol, and am considering niacin. What do you think?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:

Niacin is not worth the headache and nuisance. Ask your doctor for a newer statin, such as Crestor. I see many statin "failures" that are really just patients who need to try a different statin.

You should also consider a diet high in soluble fiber, and discuss with your doctor whether fish oil may be a useful addition also. This will improve your HDL and lower LDL in the long term. Diets that are deficient in fiber can be supplemented with one to two teaspoons, three times a day, of psillium fiber supplements, such as Metamucil.

But the latest research shows niacin does more harm than good and should be avoided.