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The drug finasteride, widely recognized for its use in the treatment of male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate, has been identified as having the potential to improve heart health by reducing cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease. This discovery adds a surprising new dimension to the known benefits of the drug.
This exciting research carried out by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign highlights the findings of the National Health Survey and Nutrition Examination carried out between 2009 and 2016.
Beyond Hair: The Potential of Finasteride to Protect Your Heart
Previous research revealed that men who used finasteride had significantly lower cholesterol levels compared to those who did not take the drug.
Other experiments in mice corroborated these findings and showed reductions in plasma cholesterol, delay in the progression of atherosclerosis, and decreased liver inflammation, among other positive results.
Jaume Amenguallead author of the study and assistant professor at the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, expressed surprise at the results.
““When we looked at the men taking finasteride in the survey, their cholesterol levels averaged 30 points lower than those of men not taking the drug. I thought we would see the opposite pattern, so it was very interesting,” he said.
Navigating limitations in finasteride research
However, the study faced limitations due to its observational nature and small sample size of men over 50 years of age who reported using finasteride.
Despite these challenges, the findings prompted further research into the drug’s effects in mice, with the goal of understanding the mechanisms behind these observations.
“This was not a clinical study where you can control everything perfectly,” Amengual said. “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 the mice.’”
Amengual’s curiosity about finasteride arose from its mechanism of action: blocking a protein that activates testosterone, a hormone suspected to play a role in atherosclerosis.
Finasteride, testosterone and heart health
This connection between testosterone and cardiovascular disease led the team to explore the potential impact of finasteride beyond hair loss and prostate health.
“One day I was reading about this drug and I started to notice that there weren’t many long-term studies on the implications of the drug. At first, 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 problems,” Amengual said. “So, we decided to delve into it.”
Donald Molina Chaves, a doctoral student working with Amengual, conducted experiments on mice predisposed to atherosclerosis. Mice were fed varying doses of finasteride along with a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet.
“Mice that received a high dose of finasteride showed lower cholesterol levels in both plasma and arteries,” Molina Chaves said. “There were also fewer lipids and inflammatory markers in the liver.”
The highest dose tested showed significant reductions in cholesterol levels and inflammatory markers in the liver, although Amengual notes that such a dose would not be practical for human use.
“It’s an incredibly high level of drugs. But we use mice as a model, and they are extremely resistant to things that would kill any of us,” he stated. “So it’s not so far-fetched if you think about it that way.”
Implications for transgender health
The implications of the study extend beyond men with hair loss or prostate problems. Amengual points out the possible benefits of finasteride for transgender people who are undergoing hormonal transitions and who are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
This discovery suggests that finasteride could offer a preventative measure for a broader audience, including the transgender community.
However, Amengual warns that finasteride, like any medication, carries risks and emphasizes the importance of consulting health care providers for personalized advice.
“Over the last decade, doctors began prescribing this medication to people transitioning from male to female or female to male. In both cases, hormonal changes can trigger hair loss,” he stated.
“What’s interesting is that transgender people also have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this drug could have a potential beneficial effect in preventing cardiovascular diseases not only in cis men, but also in transgender people.”
This research opens the door to further studies, including possible clinical trials to verify the cholesterol-lowering effects of finasteride.
As the medical community continues to explore this unexpected benefit, finasteride stands out not only as a treatment for common men’s health problems, but also as a promising ally in the fight against heart problems and cardiovascular disease.
The Future of Finasteride: Hair, Prostate, and Heart Health
In short, this fascinating research has revealed a remarkable new facet to finasteride, a substance many already call a “miracle” drug, traditionally used to treat male pattern baldness and an enlarged prostate.
By demonstrating its potential to significantly lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease, this study opens up exciting new possibilities for the application of finasteride in healthcare.
Beyond its established uses, finasteride can now be considered a viable option for heart disease prevention, offering hope not only to men suffering from hair loss and prostate problems, but also to the transgender community, which faces increased risk of heart-related health problems. .
This discovery paves the way for future research and clinical trials, highlighting the importance of re-evaluating existing medications for new and beneficial uses.
The full study was published in the Lipid Research Journal.
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