The idea for this study first arose when lead author Dr. Jaume Amengual wanted to know about the long-term effects of finasteride.

After examining National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data collected between 2009 and 2016, Dr. Amengual found that men who took the drug had lower cholesterol levels than men who did not take it. They found that it was about 30 points lower on average. I haven’t taken it.

Unfortunately, there was no data telling us how much the men took and for how long. This led him to start research using mice.

In this study, mice were treated with four different doses of finasteride (0, 10, 100, and 1,000 milligrams per kilogram of food). The drug was administered to mice that are genetically predisposed to developing atherosclerosis.

In addition, the animals were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet that mimicked the typical Western diet consumed by humans.

After 12 weeks, the mice’s lipids were tested for evidence of atherosclerosis. Gene expression in the liver was also tested.

The researchers also looked at bile acid metabolism and tested the mice for steroids, triglycerides, and immune activity.

Tests showed that mice treated with finasteride had lower cholesterol levels in their blood plasma and arteries.

They also had lower lipid levels and inflammatory markers.

Amengual said in a press release that the amount of money required to achieve this result was “incredibly high.” However, he explained that mice tend to be more resistant to drugs than humans. This, combined with the fact that lower cholesterol levels were also seen in men in the NHANES database, suggests that humans may respond to lower doses than mice.

Rigved Tadwarkar, M.D., a board-certified consultant cardiologist at Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., who was not involved in the study, said he believes finasteride may benefit cholesterol levels in humans. He said there are several ways.

“One proposed mechanism suggests that finasteride may reduce monocyte activity and inflammation, thereby reducing the number of monocytes, immune cells involved in arterial plaque formation. ” he explained.

“Another avenue being investigated is the regulation of bile acid metabolism by finasteride, suggesting that finasteride may influence bile acid production and excretion, thereby affecting cholesterol metabolism. ”

Tadwalkar also noted that the study explores the possibility that finasteride alters gene expression in the liver.

These changes may extend to liver lipid metabolism and inflammation, he said.

Dr. Justin Manjourides, a biostatistician and associate professor of biostatistics at Northeastern University who was not involved in the study, commented on the study: “My first thought is that this is a pretty well-done study.”

He noted that although the key results are in mice, they are consistent with what has been observed in humans.

“By motivating the observational part of the study on experimental mouse data, the authors argue against the common ‘p-hacking’ criticism of examining several exposure-outcome pairs and presenting only those that reach significance. is avoided.”

Additionally, the reduction in cholesterol levels was consistent across several potential effect modifiers, Manjourides said.

He also noted some limitations, including that the study portion of NHANES included only 155 men.

“For finasteride, there are no dosing, compliance, or treatment duration measures,” he added.

“In cross-sectional studies, the lack of information about treatment duration and baseline outcome measures (before finasteride administration) precludes establishing a causal relationship between exposure and outcome.”

Manjourides also said a potential problem lies in the fundamental differences between those who used finasteride and those who did not.

“There is no way to know in which direction the bias created by this lack of information is,” he concluded.

Although these findings are promising, it is too early to say how finasteride compares with other established cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as statins, ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors, Tadwarkar said.

These drugs have proven efficacy in lowering cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk, he said.

“This study suggests a potential benefit of finasteride in slowing cardiovascular disease by improving plasma lipid profile, but that benefit should be considered in the context of existing interventions” Tadwarkar he said.

“Further research is needed to determine its true efficacy, safety profile, and optimal role in cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk management.”

New research suggests that finasteride, a drug currently used to treat male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate, may also lower cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Men who used this drug had lower cholesterol levels.

Finasteride was also found to lower cholesterol levels in mice.

However, while the study results are promising, it is too early to tell how well they compare with existing treatments. Further research is needed to show whether finasteride is safe and effective in lowering cholesterol in humans.