Marked Suppression of Dihydrotestosterone in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Dutasteride, a Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibitor
TLDR Dutasteride more effectively lowers DHT levels in men with enlarged prostates than finasteride.
The study demonstrated that dutasteride, a dual 5α-reductase inhibitor, significantly suppressed dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) over 24 weeks. Higher doses of dutasteride (2.5 mg and 5.0 mg) resulted in greater DHT suppression (97.7% and 98.4%, respectively) compared to finasteride (70.8%). The study included 399 participants and concluded that dutasteride was more effective in lowering DHT levels and managing BPH symptoms, with a safety profile similar to placebo.