Testosterone increases in men after a low dose of alcohol.
BACKGROUND
Heavy acute alcohol drinking decreases blood testosterone in men due to an effect on the testicular level. An acute increase in blood testosterone levels after a low alcohol dose has, however, recently been reported in women. The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of a low alcohol dose on testosterone in men and further elucidate the mechanism behind the effect by using 4-methylpyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol metabolism.


METHODS
A double-blind placebo-controlled interventional crossover trial in random order (n = 13).


RESULTS
After intake of alcohol (0.5 g/kg, 10% w/v), an acute increase in plasma testosterone (from 13.5 +/- 1.2 nmol/liter to 16.0 +/- 1.6 nmol/liter, mean +/- SEM; p < 0.05), a decrease in androstenedione (from 5.1 +/- 0.4 nmol/liter to 4.0 +/- 0.3 nmol/liter; p < 0.05), and an increase in the testosterone:androstenedione ratio (from 2.8 +/- 0.3 to 4.2 +/- 0.4; p < 0.01) were observed. The effects were not observed during pretreatment with 4-methylpyrazole (10-15 mg/kg orally), which inhibited the ethanol elimination rate by 37 +/- 3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol intake affects the androgen balance in men through an effect mediated by the alcohol-induced change in the redox state in the liver.
Sarkola
Taisto
T
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
Eriksson
C J Peter
CJ
D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D000077604:Fomepizole; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D011720:Pyrazoles; D000431:Ethanol; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D000077604:Fomepizole