HOME PAGE | ARTICLES INDEX

OVER 70 MEDICAL CONDITIONS CURED, HELPED OR PREVENTED BY LOW-CARB, HIGH-FAT DIET
including the serious, such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, MS, to the less serious such as acne . . .

DISEASES INDEX
Google













Do statins cause impotence?



L. de Graaf, A. H. P. M. Brouwers, & W. L. Diemont, et al. Is decreased libido associated with the use of HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors? Br J Clin Pharmacol 2004; 58: 326-328

Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb, Goudsbloemvallei 7, 5237 MH 's-Hertogenbosch, and General Practice, Pastoor Omenstraat 6, 5121 EN Rijen, the Netherlands

ABSTRACT

Aims and methods
To describe patients with decreased libido during use of a HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitor, and to discuss causality and pharmacological hypotheses for this association by analysis of the adverse drug reactions (ADR) database of the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb.

Results
Eight patients were identified as having decreased libido during use of statins. In two of these cases testosterone levels were determined and appeared to be decreased.

Conclusion
Decreased libido is a probable adverse drug reaction of HMG-CoA-reductase-inhibitors and is reversible. The ADR may be caused by low serum testosterone levels, mainly due to intracellular cholesterol depletion.


COMMENT: HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors are more commonly known as statins.

There was an article on the BBC news recently the week about drug companies inventing ills for their pills in order to maximise profits. Could it possibly be the case that, by selling more and more men statins — and, thus, reducing their ability to 'get it up' — they are creating a bigger market for their Viagra?

Or am I being cynical?

It could be the case also that low testosterone levels and impotence are caused by low levels of blood cholesterol.


Last updated 9 April 2005



"NH&WL may be the best non-technical book on diet ever written"
Joel Kauffman, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA

The Perfect Weight Plan: Be Slim without Dieting
– a completely new kind of video and DVD.



Index Page                     About Barry Groves

Low-carb dieting      The Cancer Files      Fat, Cholesterol and Heart Disease      Diabetes treatment
Fluoride — Health or Politics?      Vegetarianism      Food scares and miscellaneous items
Alternative Medicine      Wayne Martin      Links to reliable websites      Flight Archery