Finasteride, a medication used to treat hair loss and marketed under the brands Propecia and Proscar, may also lower cholesterol and lessen the risk of heart disease, according to a recent research published in the Journal of Lipid Research. Men who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2009 and 2016 were the subject of the investigation. Women were not included in the analysis since finasteride is primarily used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia and male baldness.
The study excluded men who had been diagnosed or self-reported as having prostate cancer, as well as those who had inflammation and infection in the prostate. The researchers looked solely at males over 50, as just 10 of the 165 men using finasteride in the study were under 50.
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Finasteride Dosage Impact on Atherosclerosis Risk
Four different dosages of finasteride per kilogramme of food were administered to the mice in this study: 0, 10, 100, and 1,000 milligrammes. Mice that were genetically predisposed to atherosclerosis were given the medication. The animals were also provided a diet that was heavy in fat and cholesterol, similar to what is often consumed by humans in the West. The mice were tested for lipids and looked for signs of atherosclerosis after a 12-week period. The liver’s gene expression was also examined. In addition, the researchers measured triglycerides, hormones, and immunological activity in the mice as well as the metabolism of bile acid.
Following the experiments, scientists discovered that the mice receiving finasteride had reduced cholesterol levels in their arteries and plasma. Additionally, their inflammatory indicators and cholesterol levels were decreased. Amengual did state in a news release that “incredibly high” amounts were required to get this result. But mice are generally more drug-resistant than people, he noted. This implies that people would respond to a lower dose than did the mice, as did the fact that males in the NHANES database likewise observed lowered cholesterol levels.
Finasteride’s Potential for Lowering Cholesterol
A board-certified consultant cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre in Santa Monica, California, Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, who was not involved in the study, talked about a number of possible ways that finasteride might lower cholesterol in people. Finasteride may lessen monocytes, immune cells implicated in the development of arterial plaques, according to one theory. A further line of inquiry is bile acid metabolism regulation.
Dr. Tadwalkar further mentioned that the study looked into the potential for finasteride to alter the expression of certain liver genes. These changes may also affect the liver’s inflammatory response and lipid metabolism. According to him, these changes may also affect hepatic inflammation and lipid metabolism. Despite the encouraging results, Tadwalkar stated that it is too soon to determine how well finasteride will stack up against other well-researched drugs that cut cholesterol, such PCSK9 inhibitors, ezetimibe, and statins.
Finasteride’s Potential Role in Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
He stated these medications have demonstrated effectiveness in decreasing cholesterol and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.. “While the study suggests a potential benefit of finasteride in delaying cardiovascular disease by improving the plasma lipid profile, the benefits should be considered in the context of existing interventions,” said Tadwalkar. “More research is needed to determine its true efficacy, safety profile, and optimal role in managing cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk.”
According to recent studies, finasteride, a medication presently used to treat enlarged prostates and male pattern baldness, may also be able to lower cholesterol and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. The medication reduced cholesterol in men who used it. It was also discovered that finasteride lowers cholesterol in mice. Though the study’s results are encouraging, it’s too soon to tell how well it could stack up against currently available treatments. To determine whether finasteride is a safe and efficient way to lower cholesterol in people, more study is required.
