NEWS YOU CAN USE: 3 Things To Know About Niacin And Heart Health. “Recent studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine are adding to concerns about the safety and effectiveness of niacin, a popular drug for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The studies reveal that although this B vitamin can reduce triglyceride levels, raise ‘good’ cholesterol levels (HDL) and reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol levels (LDL), it does not produce the benefits that patients and their doctors might expect. And the studies are revealing serious harms.”