Hormonal changes with cholesterol reduction: a double-blind pilot study

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.

This current study sought to determine if hormonal changes accompany pharmacologically induced decreases in serum cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol, dopamine, homovanillic acid (HVA), serotonin, 5-HIAA, testosterone, cortisol and pregnenolone were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment.

Subjects' cholesterol levels significantly declined within 4 weeks. Concomitant significant increase in dopamine and HVA were noted.

Although this study is limited in size, it raises the possibility that cholesterol-lowering drug treatment is associated with hormonal perturbations.