title: Rosuvastatin decreases testosterone levels but not sexual function in men with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Electronic address: c2607c@ms56.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Ching Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shihchuan 1st Rd., San Ming District, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D013739:Testosterone; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013972:Thyrotropin; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Diabetes; Hypercholesterolemia; Sexual dysfunction; Statin; Testosterone