D-glucitol hexanicotinate (sorbinicate, SN) is a derivative of nicotinic acid. In rabbits kept on a diet containing 1 g/day cholesterol for 12 weeks, sorbinicate displayed greater hypolipemic and antiatherogenic activity than an equidose of plain nicotinic acid at much lower and more constant plasma nicotinic acid levels. By modulating the bioavailability of nicotinic acid, sorbinicate maintains and in some cases enhances the pharmacological activity of the acid, avoiding at least some of its major side effects. Sorbinicate has effective lipid-lowering activity; the combination of hypolipidemic and anti-aggregating properties may prove important in primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic disease. It is suggested that the antilipolytic activity of sorbinicate is at least partly mediated by an inhibition of glucagon secretion (and/or synthesis).