29 Mar Statins and Sex

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. John B. Kostis, MD
Chief of Medical Service, RWJUH
Professor of Medicine & Pharmacology
Chair – Department of Medicine
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr.Kostis:  In this meta-analysis statins improved erectile function in men with decreased function on the average.

MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Dr.Kostis: Statins may affect erectile function through several pathways.  They may  increase availability of nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator of the penile arteries that causes erection.  In addition through lowering cholesterol they improve endothelial integrity and function.

However cholesterol is a precursor of testosterone.  Thus statins may lower synthesis of testosterone. The balance was a beneficial effect of statins on erectile function.
MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr.Kostis: Statins improved erectile function.  This may help increase adherence  to statin therapy among patients who who need statin treatment for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr.Kostis: Larger studies with longer duration and studies in combination with PDE5 inhibitors or testosterone..

Citaton:
Abstract presented at ACC 14
March 2014

Effect of Statins on Erectile Function

John B. Kostis, Jeanne M. Dobrzynski, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School,
New Brunswick, NJ, USA