More on Testosterone: Statins

Statin Therapy Is Associated With Lower Total but Not Bioavailable or Free Testosterone in Men With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

There is a high prevalence of hypogonadism in men with type 2 diabetes. This will lead to an increase in assessments of hypogonadism. Statins could potentially decrease testosterone levels by reducing the availability of cholesterol for androgen synthesis. We compared testosterone levels and hypogonadal symptoms with statin use in a cross-sectional study of 355 men with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Total testosterone, sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG), and estradiol were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bioavailable testosterone was measured by the modified ammonium sulfate precipitation method. Free testosterone was calculated using Vermeulen's formula. Symptoms of hypogonadism were assessed using the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male questionnaire.

RESULTS

Statins were associated with lower total testosterone (11.9 vs. 13.4 nmol/l, P = 0.006) and a trend toward lower SHBG (29.4 vs. 35.3 nmol/l, P = 0.034) compared with no treatment. Bioavailable testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol, and hypogonadal symptoms were not affected. Subanalysis showed that atorvastatin was associated with reduced total testosterone (11.4 vs. 13.4 nmol/l, P = 0.006) and a trend toward reduced SHBG (27.6 vs. 35.3 nmol/l, P = 0.022) compared with no treatment, and there was an apparent dose-response effect with the lowest levels of total testosterone seen in men treated with ≥20 mg atorvastatin (9.6 nmol/l, P = 0.017). Simvastatin use was not associated with significant reductions in testosterone or SHBG levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessing androgen status using total testosterone in men with type 2 diabetes treated with statins, particularly atorvastatin, may potentially lead to diagnostic error. Levels of bioavailable testosterone or free testosterone are recommended for the assessment of hypogonadism in this group if total testosterone levels are borderline.

Full article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2660443/

Statin-associated gynecomastia: ( Man boobs)

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study was to add to the body of evidence on statin-induced gynecomastia based on data retrieved from the Italian spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting database.

METHODS:

Spontaneous ADR reports collected in the Italian database up to 31 December 2010 were assessed on a case-by-case basis in a search for evidence of a possible causal association between statins and gynecomastia. Cases of gynecomastia or possible gynecomastia, according to the Medical Dictionary of Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) classification, associated with statin use were retrieved from the database. The findings were compared with the available literature in PubMed.

RESULTS:

The database contained 90,448 ADR reports on 21 December 2010. At least one statin was listed as the suspected drug in 2,862 reports, of which 1,334 concerned a male patient. Among these reports, we identified eight cases with the preferred term “gynecomastia” with a statin as suspected drug: four reports of rosuvastatin and four of atorvastatin. One additional report of an unspecified “breast disorder” in a male patient attributed to fluvastatin was identified and included as a possible case. Four case-reports of statin-induced gynecomastia published between 2006 and 2010 were retrieved from PubMed.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings suggest an association between gynecomastia and statins as a drug class, and the occurrence of this ADR would appear to be more likely with active substances that show an higher potency in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase enzyme. To date, the safety information provided on the labels of different statin-containing medicines is not standardized. Harmonization of this information would be helpful for both healthcare practitioners and patients.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22286160

Graham