5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors Reduce Remission Time of COVID-19: Results From a Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Interventional Trial in 130 SARS-CoV-2 Positive Men

Three years ago, a double-blinded, randomized, prospective study was conducted on 130 SARS-CoV-2 positive men to determine the effect of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5ARis) on COVID-19 remission times. The study found that men treated with dutasteride, a type of 5ARi, had significantly reduced total remission times compared to those in the placebo group (9.0 days versus 15.6 days, p < 0.001). Specifically, the average remission times for fatigue and loss of taste or smell were statistically different between the groups (5.8 versus 10.1 days for fatigue and 7.3 versus 13.4 days for loss of taste or smell, in dutasteride and placebo groups, respectively). Excluding loss of taste and smell, the average total remission time was 7.3 days in the dutasteride group versus 11.7 in the placebo arm (p < 0.001). Thus, the use of 5ARis significantly reduced the total remission time for men with COVID-19.