Statin medications may reduce the size of men's prostates

A prescription to buy Lipitor may do more than simply lower cholesterol levels. New research suggests the medication, and statins in general, may help to reduce the size of men's prostate glands.

The vast majority of men over the age of 70 develop an enlarged prostate, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. However, there are relatively few effective treatments for the condition. One of the most useful is surgery, but this procedure can lead to severe urinary side effects.

In the present study, researchers from Duke University analyzed the medical records of 6,000 men, more than 1,000 of whom were taking cholesterol-lowering statin medications. The results showed that the participants who took statins had significantly smaller prostates than those not taking the drugs.

As the population continues to age, millions more men will be affected by BPH. However, the researchers said they believe their findings could help these individuals cope with the problem. Statins are generally safe for most people and carry only a small risk of side effects.