The two popular statins that increase risk of erectile dysfunction according to scientists

Popular statins taken by millions of Britons may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction, a study suggests.

Chinese researchers have found that cholesterol-lowering drugs atorvastatin and simvastatin, in particular, were linked with a higher long-term risk of impotence.

Around eight million adults in the UK are prescribed statins, which work by lowering the amount of cholesterol – a waxy, fat like substance – the body produces. This helps keep blood vessels healthy and aims to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Around half of men over 40 in the nation also experience erectile dysfunction (ED) – the medical term for difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.

Research into whether statins and ED are linked to each other has long been varied, with some studies claiming the drugs may actually improve ED by boosting blood flow to the penis through healthier blood vessels.

Others have suggested statins could contribute to ED by reducing cholesterol levels so much that the body has less raw material to produce testosterone, the male sex hormone.

Now, researchers from the Sixth Hospital of Wuhan in China say atorvastatin and simvastatin – two of the most commonly prescribed statins in Britain – may be linked to a higher long-term risk of ED than another popular statin, rosuvastatin. 

Authors said: ‘These findings suggest that clinicians should monitor the sexual health of patients on statin use. Switching to rosuvastatin may be a beneficial strategy for patients experiencing ED.’

Researchers analysed genetic data from more than 223,000 people, including 6,175 men with ED, using data from the UK Biobank and Finland’s FinnGen project – both of which are large medical databases.

They used the data to estimate the drugs’ long-term effects.

Overall, statin use was linked to a 6.4 per cent higher risk of ED, with the increased risk largely driven by atorvastatin and simvastatin.

Around five million people in Britain are prescribed atorvastatin, commonly sold under the brand name Lipitor.

Simvastatin – sold under the brand name Zocor – is among the other statins prescribed in Britain, alongside rosuvastatin (Crestor), pravastatin (Lipostat) and fluvastatin (Lescol).

The researchers think the difference may come down to how different statins spread through the body. 

Atorvastatin and simvastatin can more easily reach the testicles, where one theory is that they may reduce testosterone production.

Rosuvastatin, meanwhile, stays mainly in the liver and is less likely to reach the testicles, which may explain why the study found no link between the drug and ED. 

The team also suggested that statins which lower cholesterol more aggressively could leave less cholesterol available for the body to make testosterone and other sex hormones, potentially a significant contributing factor.

Authors urged the findings to be interpreted with caution, stressing that the study estimates the effects of lifelong exposure to statins rather than the risks faced by patients taking statins in everyday clinical practice.

They said the results provide evidence supporting a link, but should not cause unnecessary alarm or make people stop taking their medication without medical advice.