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statins

Testosterone levels, testosterone therapy and all-cause mortality in men with type 2 diabetes - impact of PDE5 inhibitors and statins

The prevalence of testosterone deficiency is higher in men with type 2 diabetes than among non-diabetic men [1-6], and testosterone deficiency is associated with increased mortality.[7, 8]
 
Type 2 diabetic men often have dyslipidemia [9] and erectile dysfunction [10, 11], and hence statins and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5I) are widely used in these men.
 
Here I summarize the results of a study published in International Journal of Clinical Practice, which investigated the impact of testosterone levels and testosterone therapy on mortality, and assessed if this was affected by concomitant statin and PDE5I use.[12] 
 
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The “good” HDL cholesterol under attack! - Defending Niacin, aka vitamin B3

Niacin confers tremendous beneficial effects on both lipids, inflammation and endothelial function. For more, see my previous article:
 
 
 
Despite this, two media attention grabbing studies - AIM-HIGH and HPS2-THRIVE - did not find any benefits of niacin supplementation in heart disease patients who were already on intensive statin treatment. 
 
Here I will summarize these studies and expose their multiple flaws, which never made it to the headlines...
 
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