An ester formed from an inositol or an inositol derivative and niacin, wherein the inositol or the inositol derivatives comprises a stereoisomer selected from allo-inositol, cis-inositol, epi-inositol, muco-inositol, neo-inositol, scyllo-inositol, D-chiro-inositol and L-chiro-inositol, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Examples of esters include inositol hexaniacinates such as allo-inositol hexaniacinate and cis-inositol hexaniacinate. The esters can be used to treat any disorder that is treatable with niacin therapy such as dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia or cardiovascular disease. The esters can be administered with other agents such as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, statins, fibrates, activators of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors policosanol, phytosterols, tocotrienols, calcium, bile acid sequestrants, guar gum and free niacin. The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds.