Vitamin A treatment of sexual dysfunction in male alcoholics.
Thirty abstinent male alcoholics with sexual dysfunction were randomized to treatment with 3 mg RE (10,000 IU) vitamin A or placebo daily for 4 mo. Age, drinking history, period of abstinence before enrollment, and base-line laboratory indices were comparable in both groups at entry. Of the 15 subjects given placebo, 13 had a partial or full recovery of sexual functioning. By contrast, of those given vitamin A, 10 had a partial response. There were no complete responders. Six subjects (1 placebo, 5 vitamin A) who developed liver abnormalities during treatment underwent liver biopsies; five had fibrosis or cirrhosis. A significant decrease in luteinizing hormone was noted in the group given vitamin A compared with the placebo-treated group. Thus vitamin A therapy did not improve sexual functioning in male alcoholics and may have been associated with toxicity.
Worner
T M
TM
Alcohol Research and Treatment Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468.
Gordon
G G
GG
Leo
M A
MA
Lieber
C S
CS
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011228:Prealbumin; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A