Keep prostate healthy with statins?

Taking cholesterol-lowering statins may be an effective way to keep the prostate healthy, the American Urological Association has been told.

A study found statins, currently used to lower cholesterol and help prevent heart attacks and strokes, were linked to reduced risk of prostate cancer, and enlargement of the organ, which can cause urinary problems. A second study found statins may hinder prostate cancer growth by reducing inflammation.

The US Mayo Clinic followed 2,447 men aged 40 to 79 for 20 years. Men on statins were three times less likely to develop prostate cancer than those not on statins. Statin users were also 57% less likely to develop an enlarged prostate.

Researcher Dr Jennifer St Sauver said: 'If you are taking a statin for a heart condition or to lower cholesterol, these studies suggest that statins could have other benefits."

The second study, by Duke University in North Carolina, examined tumour samples from 254 men who had their prostate removed because of cancer.

It found inflammation levels were 72% lower in men who had been taking statins.

Commenting on the results, John Neate, chief executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity in the UK, said the results were "interesting" and an area for further research.

He said: "In order to arrive at definitive results, these preliminary conclusions would need to be fully tested through 'gold standard' randomised controlled trials.

"Evidence-based advice to men on the potential value of statins in prostate cancer prevention will have to await the results of full trials. It is too soon to say if the results of these studies could lead to a potential breakthrough in the use of statins to reduce the risk of prostate cancer or to slow its development.