Hair Loss & Prostate Drug may Lower Heart Risk in Men and Mice

Millions worldwide receive prescriptions for the medication finasteride, commonly known as Propecia or Proscar, to address male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate. However, a recent study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests that it may offer an unexpected and potentially life-saving advantage: reducing cholesterol levels and decreasing the overall risk of cardiovascular disease.

Published in the Journal of Lipid Research, the study uncovered significant connections between finasteride usage and reduced cholesterol levels among men surveyed in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2016. In mice receiving high doses of finasteride, researchers observed decreases in total plasma cholesterol, slowed progression of atherosclerosis, reduced liver inflammation, and associated benefits.

Lower Cholesterol Levels Among Men Taking Finasteride

Lead author Jaume Amengual, an assistant professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and the Division of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois, expressed his surprise, stating, “When we looked at the men taking finasteride in the survey, their cholesterol levels averaged 30 points lower than men not taking the drug. I thought we’d see the opposite pattern, so it was very interesting.”

Despite the excitement generated by the survey findings, they were subject to limitations. Out of nearly 4,800 survey respondents meeting general health criteria for inclusion in the analysis, only 155, all men over 50, reported using finasteride. Moreover, the researchers were unable to determine the dosage or duration of finasteride usage among the participants.

Jaume Amengual noted, “This was not a clinical study in which you can control everything perfectly. It was more of an observation that led us to say, ‘Okay, now we’ve seen this in people. Let’s see what happens in mice.'”

Investigating the Influence of Finasteride on Cholesterol Levels and Atherosclerosis

But why would a medication for hair loss and prostate issues affect cholesterol levels? Amengual focuses on atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by cholesterol plaques obstructing arteries, leading to cardiovascular diseases like stroke and heart attack. Since atherosclerosis is more prevalent in men than premenopausal women, scientists have speculated about the significance of the sex hormone testosterone in its development, although its precise role remains uncertain.

Finasteride functions by inhibiting a protein found in hair follicles and the prostate gland that activates testosterone. Recognizing the common factor of testosterone, Amengual became intrigued.

He explained, “I was reading about this medication one day, and I started to notice that there were not many long-term studies of the implications of the drug. Initially, it was just my own curiosity, based on the fact that hormone levels are known to have an effect on atherosclerosis, hair loss, and prostate issues. So, we decided to dig into it.”

After establishing the first-ever observed link between finasteride and reduced cholesterol levels in men, albeit through observational data, Amengual enlisted doctoral student Donald Molina Chaves to investigate if this pattern persisted in mice.

Analyzing the Effects

Molina Chaves administered four doses of finasteride — 0, 10, 100, and 1000 milligrams per kilogram of food — to male mice genetically predisposed to atherosclerosis. These mice were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol “Western” diet along with the drug for 12 weeks. Subsequently, various parameters were evaluated, including cholesterol and lipid levels, atherosclerotic plaque formation, liver gene expression, bile acid metabolism, steroids, triglycerides, and immune activity.

“Mice receiving the highest dose of finasteride exhibited reduced cholesterol levels in both plasma and arteries, along with diminished lipids and inflammatory markers in the liver,” Molina Chaves noted. “However, these effects were notable only at the highest dose, which exceeds typical human dosages. It’s essential to consider that mice metabolize finasteride differently from humans,” Amengual added.

Typically, finasteride is prescribed to humans at doses of 1 or 5 milligrams daily for hair loss and enlarged prostate, respectively. Noteworthy findings from a survey of men taking these standard doses suggest that the drug may lower cholesterol without requiring the high doses tested in mice.

Monitoring Cholesterol in Finasteride Users and Investigating Impact on Transgender Individuals

Future steps involve physicians monitoring cholesterol levels in patients using finasteride and conducting clinical trials to confirm the observed effect. Amengual emphasized the importance of understanding how finasteride affects transgender individuals undergoing gender transition due to hormonal changes leading to hair loss.

“In recent years, doctors have increasingly prescribed this drug to individuals transitioning between genders. Interestingly, transgender individuals face a heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, finasteride could potentially offer cardiovascular disease prevention benefits to both cisgender men and transgender individuals,” he concluded.

In conclusion, Amengual emphasizes that, similar to any medication, finasteride carries potential risks. Individuals are advised to consult their healthcare providers for further information and guidance.

Read the original article on: Science Daily

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