Key result
Four-week cholesterol-lowering therapy reduces cholesterol while increasing dopamine and homovanillic acid levels.
Why the study?
Does cholesterol-lowering drug treatment cause hormonal changes in subjects?
RCT
Double-blind
Does cholesterol-lowering drug treatment cause hormonal changes in subjects?
Cholesterol-lowering drug treatment may be associated with hormonal perturbations, specifically increases in dopamine and HVA.
Cholesterol-lowering therapy may affect dopamine pathways; extends causal evidence of neurohormonal effects to randomized human data.
BACKGROUND: The lowering of high serum cholesterol levels may be associated with increased non-cardiac mortality due to behavioral changes, although such endpoints are likely rare. OBJECTIVE: This current study sought to determine if hormonal changes accompany pharmacologically induced decreases in serum cholesterol levels. METHOD: Cholesterol, dopamine, homovanillic acid (HVA), serotonin, 5-HIAA, testosterone, cortisol and pregnenolone were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Subjects' cholesterol levels significantly declined within 4 weeks. Concomitant significant increase in dopamine and HVA were noted. CONCLUSION: Although this study is limited in size, it raises the possibility that cholesterol-lowering drug treatment is associated with hormonal perturbations.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Ormiston et al. (2004) conducted an RCT in High serum cholesterol levels. Cholesterol-lowering drug treatment was evaluated on Hormonal changes (dopamine, homovanillic acid, serotonin, 5-HIAA, testosterone, cortisol, and pregnenolone). Cholesterol-lowering drug treatment over 4 weeks significantly decreased cholesterol levels and concomitantly increased dopamine and homovanillic acid levels.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:
More on PCSK9 inhibitorsMore from Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics