A new NHLBI-funded study found that drugs used to treat two common men’s health conditions are associated with lower cholesterol and other heart health benefits.
The drug finasteride, more commonly known as Propecia or Proscar, is prescribed to men to treat male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate. Finasteride works by blocking a protein in the hair follicles and prostate that activates testosterone, which is suspected to be involved in atherosclerosis. Researchers who analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2016 found a significant association between men who took finasteride and lower cholesterol levels, with levels lower than those who took finasteride. On average, they scored 30 points lower than men who did not.
In a follow-up study, the researchers administered finasteride to mice that were genetically predisposed to developing atherosclerosis while being fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol Western diet. They found that the highest doses led to a reduction in cholesterol, a delay in the onset of atherosclerosis, and a reduction in liver inflammation.
According to the study authors, “Our data revealed that finasteride is a potential treatment to slow cardiovascular disease in people by improving plasma lipid profiles.”
The study is published in the Journal of Lipid Research.
