Rosuvastatin decreases testosterone levels but not sexual function in men with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Statins may decrease serum testosterone levels via decreasing cholesterol, a precursor to testosterone. This case series studied the effects of rosuvastatin on free testosterone levels and sexual function in men with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
We enrolled 151 men with type 2 diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. Biochemical assessments included serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, total testosterone and serum sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). All parameters were measured before statin treatment, after 6months of statin treatment, and 6months after discontinuing statin treatment. The Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) was also administered at these times.


RESULTS
Serum TC and LDL levels were high before statin therapy, decreased after six months of statin therapy, and increased significantly six months after discontinuing statin therapy (198.1±28.1mg/dl vs. 147.1±22.8mg/dl vs. 205.2±25.6mg/dl, p-value<0.001; 121.3±20.6mg/dl vs. 75.4±20.4mg/dl vs.124.9±20mg/dl, p-value<0.001). However, serum free testosterone levels calculated from total testosterone and SHBG calculated by formula were higher before statin therapy, obviously decreased after six months of statin therapy, and subsequently increased six months after discontinuing statin therapy (22.4±3.1ng/ml vs. 20.9±2.8ng/ml vs. 22.6±2.6ng/ml p value=0.006). SHIM scores did not obviously differ among the three stages (16.3±4.8 vs. 16.0±4.9 vs. 16.3±5.0 p=0.944). After adjustment for age, serum free testosterone levels correlated with SHIM scores and LDL (r=0.39, p=<0.001; r=0.26, p=0.02, respectively). SHIM scores did not correlate with TC or LDL.


CONCLUSIONS
Rosuvastatin reduces free testosterone levels but does not influence sexual function in men with type 2 diabetes.
['Hsieh|Ching Jung|CJ|', 'Huang|Bin|B|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D002784:Cholesterol D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 D006801:Humans D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors D006937:Hypercholesterolemia D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin D012725:Sexual Behavior D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological D013739:Testosterone D013972:Thyrotropin D014280:Triglycerides
Testosterone Diabetes Statin Hypercholesterolemia Sexual dysfunction