Hormonal changes with cholesterol reduction: a double-blind pilot study.
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.
Ormiston
T
T
Department of Internal Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA, USA. thomas.ormiston@hhs.co.santa-clara.ca.us
Wolkowitz
O M
OM
Reus
V I
VI
Johnson
R
R
Manfredi
F
F
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
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D006728:Hormones; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D000069059:Atorvastatin