JL, I believe that at the time, most here thought that the FDA did not use the correct studies to prove their point.
From the EPA Drug Initiative:
“ , none of the three studies had been designed to examine or evaluate the effects of Niacin or fibrates in patients with “High” TG levels. Importantly, most of the subjects in the trials fit into the “Normal” or “Borderline” TG ranges. “High” TG levels were found in only minor subsets of patients. In fact, in these subsets of patient with High TG levels, there was a marked reduction (28 and 37 % reduction) in CVD risk.”