The effects of statins on benign prostatic hyperplasia in elderly patients with metabolic syndrome

Purpose To evaluate the effects of simvastatin and atorvastatin in elderly male patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) accompanied by metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods Eligible patients aged >60 year with BPH accompanied by MetS were randomly assigned to receive 40 mg of simvastatin daily, 20 mg of atorvastatin daily or placebo (control group) treatment for 12 months. Serum lipids, interleukin 6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), prostate-specific antigen, prostate volume (PV) and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) were tested before and after treatment. Results The levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hs-CRP, IL-6 and IPSS was decreased, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was increased, and PV was reduced in the patients following treatments with statins. The PV of the patients who received simvastatin were reduced more than those of the patients who received atorvastatin. The decrease in PV was more significant in the obesity patients than in the normal weight patients and in the hyperlipidemia patients than in the normal-lipid patients following the statin interventions. The reduction in PV was positively related to the decreases in the levels of TC and IL-6 and to the increase in the level of HDL-C. Conclusions Simvastatin and atorvastatin significantly reduced PV, improved lower urinary tract symptoms, and slowed the clinical progression of BPH possibly by lowering cholesterol and anti-inflammatory factors.