Ezetimibe Reduces Enlarged Prostate in an Animal Model of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

The study demonstrated that ezetimibe, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, effectively reduced prostate enlargement in Bio 87.20 hamsters, a model for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Ezetimibe was as effective as finasteride, a commonly used 5α-reductase inhibitor, in reducing prostate size but did not cause the prostatic atrophy associated with finasteride. Combining ezetimibe with finasteride resulted in greater reductions in prostate size than either drug alone. These findings suggested that long-term cholesterol lowering might alleviate BPH symptoms and supported further evaluation of ezetimibe for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in humans. The study involved 48 hamsters and highlighted the potential for combination therapy to reduce side effects.