Short term effects of spironolactone on blood lipid profile: a 3‐month study on a cohort of young women with hirsutism

Abstract

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• Spironolactone is known to have antiandrogenic features and agonist activity at progesterone receptors, which are responsible for several of its hormonal side-effects.• The potential unfavourable influences of this medication on serum lipoproteins have long been a concern but literature lacks sufficient data on this issue. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• Spironolactone can adversely affect serum lipids by decreasing high-density lipoprotein and increasing low-density lipoprotein in women treated for hirsutism on a short-term basis. AIMSTo investigate the effects of spironolactone on serum lipids in women with hirsutism over a 3-month period. METHODSIn a prospective setting, 27 hirsute women (20 with polycystic ovary syndrome and seven with idiopathic hirsutism) with a mean age of 23.0 Ϯ 5.1 years were studied at baseline and 3 months after receiving a daily dose of 100 mg of spironolactone. Patients did not receive any other medications and did not go through a specific diet during the study. Lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and prolactin (PRL) were measured at baseline and 3 months after therapy. RESULTSMean body mass index of patients was 26.1 Ϯ 5.1 kg m -2 before treatment and 25.9 Ϯ 5.7 kg m -2 after treatment (NS). The therapy was associated with a significant decline of mean high-density lipoprotein (HDL), 39. CI 4.4, 5.6) vs. 6.4 (95% CI 5.7,7.1) (P < 0.05). No significant change was noted in total cholesterol, triglyceride or fasting blood glucose levels. Serum values of testosterone, DHEAS and PRL decreased significantly after 3 months of therapy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONSSpironolactone might have adverse effects on serum lipoprotein levels by increasing LDL and decreasing HDL over a short course of treatment. While treating hirsutism with spironolactone, special care should be given to women with metabolic disorders such as dyslipidaemia.

Effect of spironolactone and vitamin E on serum metabolic parameters and insulin resistance in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

“…In another 3-month study, spironolactone (100 mg/ day) had no effect on serum glucose and lipids in patients with PCOS. 31 Similarly, spironolactone did not significantly change serum glucose and lipids in patients with essential hypertension. 32 Differences in study population, duration and/or drug co-administration might account for these differing results.…”

Predicting drug-target interactions using restricted Boltzmann machines

“…Our predicted interaction between spironolactone and membrane progestin receptor gamma protein indicates that spironolactone may have some progestogenic function. Interestingly, this hypothesis can be confirmed from the clinical studies performed in (Nakhjavani et al , 2009). In addition, mesalazine is an anti-inflammatory drug that is primarily used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (Sandborn et al , 2007).…”

The metabolic effects of drugs used for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome

“…While the lipid parameters were increased (TC, LDL, TG, HDL), no changes were observed in insulin resistance and glucose metabolism. Nakhjavani et al (50) gave 100 mg spironolactone to 27 patients (20 PCOS + 7 idiopathic hirsutism) for 3 months and evaluated the lipid profile. Testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and prolactin levels decreased.…”