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.
In a study conducted on 399 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the dual 5alpha-reductase inhibitor dutasteride was found to significantly suppress serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels more effectively than the selective type 2 isoenzyme inhibitor finasteride. Participants were randomized to receive various doses of dutasteride, finasteride, or placebo once daily for 24 weeks. The highest dose of dutasteride (5.0 mg) resulted in a 98.4% decrease in DHT, and the 0.5 mg dose resulted in a 94.7% decrease, both of which were significantly greater reductions than the 70.8% decrease observed with 5 mg finasteride. Testosterone levels increased slightly but remained within the normal range across all treatment groups. Dutasteride was also well tolerated, with an adverse event profile similar to that of the placebo.
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