The study looked at 158 men who underwent prostate removal surgery. Participants took the cholesterol medication prior to surgery for 27 days on average.
Prostate cancer cells were measured by examining the tissue protein of the removed prostates.
The researchers uncovered that taking the cholesterol medication for prolonged periods of time could slow down the growth of prostate cancer. The researchers determined that in the participants, prostate cancer cells slowed down, regardless of how aggressive it was.
Research group director Teemu Murtola explained, “The findings are significant as prostate cancer is the leading cancer for men in Finland. Annually, about 5,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 800 men die from it.”
The study is the first of its kind to use cholesterol medication as a means of reducing the spread of prostate cancer. Larger studies will be necessary to confirm findings and determine whether cholesterol medications should be prescribed for prostate cancer patients.
Also read:
- 10 best essential oils for high cholesterol reduction
- 4 factors that increase your risk of prostate cancer