CHICAGO, Mar 6, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A U.S. study suggests some statin
drugs used to lower cholesterol may also reduce sexual pleasure, researchers
said.
The research, involving more than 1,000 adults with high LDL cholesterol, found
patients who took simvastatin -- marketed as Zocor -- had the largest LDL drop
and the largest drop in sexual pleasure, USA Today reported Friday. Pravastatin
-- marketed as Pravachol -- did not lower LDL as well as Zocor but patients
reported no significant decline in sexual pleasure, the report said.
The findings were presented Friday at the American Psychosomatic Society meeting
in Chicago.
Lead researcher Beatrice Golomb of the University of California-San Diego School
of Medicine said statins may reduce Coenzyme Q10, a nutrient that boosts energy.
Researchers said there may also be an issue of brain chemistry, sensory nerves
or the spinal cord, the newspaper reported.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International