dutasteride and Obesity

5α-reductases, a unique family of enzymes with a wide host of substrates and tissue distributions, play a key role in the metabolism of androgens, progestins, mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids. These enzymes are the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of a host of neurosteroids, which are critical for central nervous system function. Androgens and glucocorticoids modulate mitochondrial function, carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism and energy balance. Thus, the inhibition of these regulatory enzymes results in an imbalance in steroid metabolism and clearance rates, which leads to altered physiological processes. In this report, we advance the hypothesis that inhibition of 5α-reductases by finasteride and dutasteride alters not only steroid metabolism but also interferes with the downstream actions and signaling of these hormones. We suggest that finasteride and dutasteride inhibit 5α-reductase activities and reduce the clearance of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, potentiating insulin resistance, diabetes and vascular disease.

Topics: 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; Animals; Azasteroids; Diabetes Mellitus; Dutasteride; Finasteride; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Metabolic Syndrome; Mineralocorticoids; Obesity; Vascular Diseases

Prevention of cancer remains the most promising strategy for reducing both its incidence and the mortality due to this disease. For more than four decades, findings from epidemiology, basic research and clinical trials have informed the development of lifestyle and medical approaches to cancer prevention. These include selective oestrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer, the 5-α-reductase inhibitors finasteride and dutasteride for prostate cancer, and the development of vaccines for viruses that are associated with specific cancers. Future directions include genetic, proteomic and other molecular approaches for identifying pathways that are associated with cancer initiation and development, as well as refining the search for immunologically modifiable causes of cancer.

Topics: Aromatase Inhibitors; Azasteroids; Breast Neoplasms; Cancer Vaccines; Diet; Dutasteride; Female; Finasteride; Humans; Immunotherapy; Life Style; Male; Motor Activity; Neoplasms; Nicotiana; Obesity; Prostatic Neoplasms; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; Vaccines

Testosterone (T) administration to men increases T, estradiol (E2), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and fat-free mass (FFM), and decreases fat mass (FM) but does not consistently improve insulin sensitivity (IS).. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of T administration in obese, nondiabetic men on body composition and IS, and to determine if inhibition (i) of metabolism of T to E2 with anastrazole or to DHT with dutasteride alters these effects.. This was a 98-day randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled trial of 57 men, 24-51 year, free T in the lower 25% of normal range (<0.33 nmol/L), body mass index ≥ 30.0 kg/m(2). Subjects were randomized to one of four groups: (i) placebo: gel, pills, and injection; (ii) T/DHT/iE2: T gel, anastrazole, and acyline (gonadotropin releasing-hormone antagonist to suppress endogenous T); (iii) T/iDHT/E2: T gel, dutasteride, and acyline; (iv) T/DHT/E2: T gel, placebo pills, and acyline.. Main outcome measures are insulin sensitivity as percent change (%Δ) in glucose disposal rates (GDR) from a two-step euglycemic clamp (GDR1 and 2), and %FM and %FFM by dual X-ray absorptiometry scan.. Insulin Sensitivity: %Δ GDR1 differed across groups (P = 0.02, anova) and was significantly higher in the dutasteride (T/iDHT/E2) compared with the placebo and T gel (T/DHT/E2) groups. %ΔGDR2 was higher in the dutasteride (T/iDHT/E2) compared with the anastrazole (T/DHT/iE2) group. Body Composition: T gel alone (T/DHT/E2) or with dutasteride (T/iDHT/E2) significantly increased %FFM (P < 0.05) and decreased %FM (P < 0.05). There was no change in %FFM or %FM after placebo or anastrazole (T/DHT/iE2).. The combination of T plus dutasteride improved body composition and IS while T alone improved body composition but not IS, suggesting that when T is administered to men, reduction to DHT attenuates the beneficial effects of aromatization to E2 on IS but not body composition.

Topics: 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; Absorptiometry, Photon; Adult; Anastrozole; Azasteroids; Body Composition; Body Mass Index; Dihydrotestosterone; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Dutasteride; Estradiol; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Male; Middle Aged; Nitriles; Obesity; Testosterone; Triazoles; Young Adult

Although obesity has been associated with larger prostate volumes (PV), few studies have actually investigated whether obesity enhances PV growth, especially among men using 5α-reductase inhibitors.. To examine whether obesity is associated with enhanced PV growth measured by serial transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) measurements.. We conducted a secondary analysis of the REduction by DUtasteride of prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) trial, which was originally aimed at cancer risk reduction among high-risk men with a single negative prestudy biopsy.. Per-protocol randomization to placebo or dutasteride and mandatory TRUS-guided biopsies at 2 yr and 4 yr.. Percentage change in PV at 2 yr and 4 yr from baseline. We tested its association with baseline body mass index (BMI) groups of <25, 25-29.9, and ≥ 30 kg/m(2) using multivariable linear regression. Secondarily, we tested whether BMI was associated with the likelihood of having no PV reduction among men randomized to dutasteride using multivariable logistic regression.. Of 8122 participants, we analyzed 71.8% and 54.5% with complete 2-yr and 4-yr PV data, respectively. In multivariable analysis, men on placebo with BMI ≥ 30 versus < 25 kg/m(2) had enhanced PV growth from baseline (at 2 yr: 17.0% vs 10.7%, p<0.001; at 4 yr: 29.4% vs 20.1%; p=0.001). Men on dutasteride with BMI ≥ 30 versus < 25 kg/m(2) had attenuated PV reduction from baseline (at 2 yr: -14.3% vs -18.5%; p=0.002; at 4 yr: -13.2% vs -19.3%; p=0.001) and higher likelihood of having no PV reduction (at 2 yr: odds ratio [OR]: 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.93; p=0.014; at 4 yr: OR: 1.62; 95% CI, 1.18-2.22; p=0.003). We found no significant interactions between BMI and dutasteride on PV change at 2 yr and 4 yr (p interaction ≥ 0.36). No clinical outcomes or effects of weight change were assessed.. Obesity enhanced PV growth and attenuated PV reduction by dutasteride. The null interaction between obesity and dutasteride for PV change implies that the effect of obesity on dutasteride-treated men is likely a combination of dutasteride-driven PV reduction with obesity-driven PV growth rather than decreased dutasteride efficacy.

Topics: 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; Aged; Azasteroids; Biopsy; Body Mass Index; Dutasteride; Humans; Linear Models; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Obesity; Organ Size; Prostate; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatic Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography