Dušková M, Hill M, Stárka L. The influence of low dose finasteride, a type II 5α-reductase inhibitor, on circulating neuroactive steroids.
Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig 2010;
1:95-102. [PMID:
25961975 DOI:
10.1515/hmbci.2010.010]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2009] [Accepted: 08/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Finasteride is a 5α-reductase inhibitor that has received clinical approval for the treatment of human benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia. The treatment is practically without side effects, although some occasional cases of depression syndrome have been reported. 5α-Reductase is an enzyme responsible for the reduction of testosterone, progesterone or deoxycorticosterone to their 5α-reduced derivatives possessing anticonvulsant, antidepressant, and anxiolytic activity. Therefore, the formation of GABAergic neuroactive steroids is likely to be impacted by finasteride.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to show how the treatment of premature androgenetic alopecia with low doses (1 mg/day) of finasteride influences the broad spectrum of steroids with potential neuroactivity.
METHODS
A group of 12 men with premature androgenetic alopecia participated in the present study. The steroid hormone profile was determined for all individuals. Finasteride was administered for 4 months at a daily dose of 1 mg. After the treatment, the same hormonal profile was determined again.
RESULTS
5α-Reduced steroids, e.g., 5α-dihydrotestosterone, androsterone, epiandrosterone, 5α-androstene-3α,17β-diol, allopregnanolone, isopregnaolone, and some 5-ene steroids, such as dehydroepiandrosterone and pregnenolone, decreased gradually during treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
The decrease of 5α-reduced steroids, especially of allopregnanediol, dihydrotestosterone, and pregnenolone, is probably one of the factors responsible for the increased occurrence of depression in men treated with finasteride, even at low doses.
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