Drugs that have long been used for two common treatments men’s health Depending on the conditions, unexpected benefits may arise.

Finasteride (more commonly known as Propecia or Proscar) has treated male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate in millions of men.

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign also “Miracle medicine” It has a cholesterol-lowering effect and reduces the risk of heart disease.

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The study results, published in the Journal of Lipid Research, showed that men who took the drug had lower cholesterol levels, on average 30 points lower than men who did not take it.

This data was originally collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2016.

A drug that has long been used to treat two common health conditions in men may have some unexpected benefits. (St. Petersburg)

next, mouse researchUsing this drug for 12 weeks in conjunction with a high-fat, high-cholesterol “Western-style” diet is associated with lowering cholesterol, slowing the buildup of plaque in the arteries, and reducing inflammation in the liver, among other effects. Was.

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“The most surprising finding was the human data,” study lead author Jaume Amengual, assistant professor in the College of Food Science and Human Nutrition and the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois, told FOX News Digital.

“When we observed the association between finasteride and plasma lipids, we decided to conduct a study in mice.”

Drug effects and side effects

as hair loss treatment, finasteride works by blocking a protein located in the hair follicle. Also, as a treatment for prostate enlargement, this drug blocks the prostate gland from activating testosterone.

Atherosclerosis occurs when cholesterol plaques build up in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, and is most common in men.

Finasteride, a hair loss treatment, works by blocking a protein in the hair follicle. (St. Petersburg)

Some experts believe that the male hormone testosterone, heart condition.

Because of its possible hormonal effects, researchers considered whether the drug could also reduce the risk of heart disease, Amengual said.

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Dr. Mark Siegel, Clinical Professor, School of Medicine New York University Langone Medical Center The Fox News medical contributor was not involved in the study but commented on the effects of finasteride.

“It prevents testosterone from converting to dihydrotestosterone, which stops hair loss and also shrinks the prostate by 25%,” he said.

Side effects include: depression, anxiety And there is also impotence, the doctor added.

After the drug was found to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease, one doctor called for further research to confirm the results. (St. Petersburg)

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert who was also not involved in the study, provided insight into the drug’s use and the risks associated with it.

“Finasteride, when used at normal doses (1 to 5 mg per day, depending on the indication), produces side effects that are intolerable to many people,” he said.

“Finasteride has intolerable side effects for many people at normal doses.”

The drug works by lowering DHT (dihydrotestosterone) levels to have the desired effect on the prostate and hair follicles, “but it can also rob a man of energy, virility, sex drive and drive.” he said.

Research limitations and next steps

The researchers noted some limitations to the study.

Of the approximately 4,800 total participants, only 155 were using finasteride, and all were men over 50 years of age. The study also did not specify duration or dosage.

As a treatment for prostate enlargement, finasteride blocks the prostate gland from activating testosterone. (St. Petersburg)

“We also did not investigate the effects of finasteride in women or female mice,” Amengual said.

“However, this drug is not prescribed to women during pregnancy as it can be dangerous.”

“This drug could be another tool to fight cardiovascular disease.”

The next step is tracking cholesterol level The number of patients taking finasteride should be investigated or clinical trials initiated to confirm the association.

“There is still much to discover about how finasteride works in our bodies,” Amengual pointed out. “But based on our findings, this drug could become another tool in the fight against cardiovascular disease.”

The drug works by lowering DHT (dihydrotestosterone) levels to have the desired effect on the prostate and hair follicles, but doctors noted that it may cause side effects in some men. (St. Petersburg)

Siegel also called for more research after the drug was found to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.

“Larger studies in humans are needed to confirm these findings before we consider using this drug for cardiac prophylaxis,” he said.

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“It may ultimately serve this purpose.” among the elderlyIt is given as additional statin therapy to people at high risk of heart attack or stroke. ”

In addition to the study’s small size, Osborn noted that it was retrospective, “which means there was no control group and random effects unknown to the researchers could have pushed the results in one direction.” “That means it could have influenced the situation,” he told Fox. News Digital.

Dr. Mark Siegel (left) and Dr. Brett Osborn both shared insight into the uses and side effects of finasteride. (Dr. Mark Siegel | Dr. Brett Osborn)

“Nonetheless, the authors’ observations are interesting and warrant further investigation,” Osborne continued.

“After all, lipid-lowering drugs are one of the mainstays of cardiovascular risk reduction, and most Americans die from vascular-related causes.”

Osborne cautioned that this study does not mean all men should start taking finasteride.

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Instead, he recommends: regular exerciseincrease your daily fiber intake to 25 grams and consume high doses of omega-3 fatty acids to reduce cardiovascular risk.

“For now, refrain from using finasteride as a lipid-lowering agent,” he advised. “As it stands, the juice is not worth the squeeze.”

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