Statins not only reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart attack, but also improve sexual health in elderly patients.

These are the findings of a new study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Erectile dysfunction is a common problem in elderly men with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

In fact, erectile dysfunction can be interpreted as an alarming sign of vascular disease.

"It's like a canary in a coal mine," says Dr. John Costis. Kostis), the author of the new study and director of the Cardiovascular Institute at the Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine (New Brunswick, New Jersey).

Statins are prescribed to lower cholesterol. They work by blocking the substances necessary for the body to synthesize cholesterol. They also participate in the reabsorption of cholesterol, which is deposited on the walls of the arteries and interferes with normal blood flow.

Researchers believe that statins can be effective in treating a whole range of diseases associated with the exchange of cholesterol:.

• Arthritis and fractures of bones.

• Some forms of cancer.

• Renal failure.

• Dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

• Control of the immune system after transplantation.

In 2013, the journal Annals of Surgery reported that statins can prevent cognitive deficits associated with an inflammatory reaction after operations in mice. But to study these unique properties of statins so far too little has been done.

Dr. Kostis and his team analyzed 11 randomized studies of the effects of statins on erectile dysfunction. Presenting his findings at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Cardiology, Dr. Kostis said: "Our work shows that statins not only improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack, but also improve erectile function in men included in the analysis".

He warns that statins should not be prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction for men who do not have cardiovascular diseases, and also when erectile dysfunction is caused by psychological factors.

Dr. Kostis says that more research is needed to refine the findings.

In an interview with The Journal of Sexual Medicine, he added: "The most important method of preventing erectile dysfunction is a healthy lifestyle. But statin therapy has proven to be a long-term benefit in reducing cardiac risk and the devastating effects of CVD. By offering statin therapy, we can now expand the list of beneficial effects ".

Although the drugs in this group very effectively reduce cholesterol, they have potentially dangerous side effects.

These include liver damage, muscle problems, increased sugar levels and neurological effects, such as memory loss. There are less serious transient disorders: joint and muscle pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation.

Another fact about statins. In 2013, medical publications reported that the use of some powerful statins associated with a high risk of hospitalization of patients with acute renal insufficiency. Scientists have determined that this risk persists for 2 years of therapy.

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