Statins may reduce joy of sex

CHICAGO, March 6 (UPI) -- A U.S. study suggests some statin drugs used to lower cholesterol may also reduce sexual pleasure, researchers said.

The research, involving more than 1,000 adults with high LDL cholesterol, found patients who took simvastatin -- marketed as Zocor -- had the largest LDL drop and the largest drop in sexual pleasure, USA Today reported Friday. Pravastatin -- marketed as Pravachol -- did not lower LDL as well as Zocor but patients reported no significant decline in sexual pleasure, the report said.

The findings were presented Friday at the American Psychosomatic Society meeting in Chicago.

Lead researcher Beatrice Golomb of the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine said statins may reduce Coenzyme Q10, a nutrient that boosts energy. Researchers said there may also be an issue of brain chemistry, sensory nerves or the spinal cord, the newspaper reported.