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

Last Updated on December 21, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD