open access
Treatment with statins and testosterone levels in men
open access
Abstract
Introduction: Statins belong to the most commonly used medicines worldwide. They affect cholesterol synthesis and thus they may suppress steroidogenesis. Our aim was to evaluate whether the use of statins is associated with the concentration of sex hormones.
Material and methods/Results: In a population sample of men (n = 237) we found that subjects receiving statins had significantly lower concentrations of: total testosterone (14.9 vs. 16.35 nmol/L, p = 0.008 after correction for body mass), free testosterone (32 vs. 39 pmol/L, p = 0.004), calculated free testosterone (0.32 vs. 0.36 nmol/L, p < 0.001) and bioavailable testosterone (6.10 vs. 7.56 nmol/L, p < 0.001) than age-matched controls.
Conclusions: We conclude that the use of statins may have an impact on the diagnosis of age-related testosterone deficiency in men. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (6): 464–468)
Abstract
Introduction: Statins belong to the most commonly used medicines worldwide. They affect cholesterol synthesis and thus they may suppress steroidogenesis. Our aim was to evaluate whether the use of statins is associated with the concentration of sex hormones.
Material and methods/Results: In a population sample of men (n = 237) we found that subjects receiving statins had significantly lower concentrations of: total testosterone (14.9 vs. 16.35 nmol/L, p = 0.008 after correction for body mass), free testosterone (32 vs. 39 pmol/L, p = 0.004), calculated free testosterone (0.32 vs. 0.36 nmol/L, p < 0.001) and bioavailable testosterone (6.10 vs. 7.56 nmol/L, p < 0.001) than age-matched controls.
Conclusions: We conclude that the use of statins may have an impact on the diagnosis of age-related testosterone deficiency in men. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (6): 464–468)
Keywords
hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors; steroid hormones; testosterone; men
About this articleTitle
Treatment with statins and testosterone levels in men
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original paper
Pages
464-468
Published online
2014-12-31
Page views
2399
Article views/downloads
3174
DOI
10.5603/EP.2014.0064
Bibliographic record
Endokrynol Pol 2014;65(6):464-468.
Keywords
hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors
steroid hormones
testosterone
men
Authors
Marek Mędraś
Eliza Kubicka
Paweł Jóźkow
Małgorzata Słowińska-Lisowska
Anna Trzmiel-Bira
Alicja Filus
