Effect of finasteride on lipid profile in individuals with androgenetic alopecia

Atherosclerosis constitutes one of the most frequent diseases and one of the important predisposing factors for atherosclerosis is lipid profile change. Androgen changes lipid profile, mainly high density lipoprotein (HDL), and oral finasteride are used for treating androgenetic hair loss as a risk factor for atherosclerosis. This study was conducted in order to determine the lipid profile changes by 1 mg finasteride tablets daily in patients with androgenetic hair loss. Twenty-five patients with androgenetic hair loss were prescribed one 1 mg finasteride tablet daily. Fasting plasma levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), HDL, triglyceride, total cholesterol and HDL to LDL ratio of patients before therapy and after 3 and 6 months of therapy were measured. The study was conducted in the form of a before-after clinical trial. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. A statistically significant rise in triglyceride plasma level (p=0.014) and significant decreases in HDL plasma level (p<0.001) was observed after 3 and 6 months of therapy, respectively. Plasma levels of LDL, total cholesterol and HDL to LDL ratio were not changed significantly but changes in ratio between third and sixth month were significant. Therefore finasteride may decrease dihydrotestosterone and increase testosterone that could lead to complications of the lipid profile by reducing HDL and increasing total cholesterol.   Key words: Atherosclerosis, finasteride, testosterone, lipid profile.