title: Hormonal changes with cholesterol reduction: a double-blind pilot study.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this study is limited in size, it raises the possibility that cholesterol-lowering drug treatment is associated with hormonal perturbations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA, USA. thomas.ormiston@hhs.co.santa-clara.ca.us
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ormiston
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Wolkowitz
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Reus
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manfredi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006728:Hormones / Q000819:agonists / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D006728:Hormones; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D000069059:Atorvastatin