title: Reference ranges for urinary levels of testosterone and epitestosterone, which may reveal gonadal function, in a Korean male population.
abstract: Cannabis, or marijuana, the most commonly used illicit drug in the world, has been shown to be responsible for suppressing the production and secretion of androgens, particularly testosterone. However, despite such findings in animals, the chronic effects of marijuana use on human endocrine systems have proved to be inconsistent. Here, we investigated the reference ranges of urinary levels of testosterone (T) and epitestosterone (E) as well as their metabolic ratio of T/E in a Korean male population (n=337), which would enable an evaluation of abnormal changes in steroid metabolism induced by habitually administered cannabis. The T/E ratio was significantly decreased in the marijuana group (n=18), while the urinary testosterone concentrations were also tended to decrease. This study is the first to provide data for the reference values of two urinary androgens and T/E values among control Korean males, and, furthermore, suggests that the T/E ratio, though not testosterone levels, might be used to understand the suppression of human male gonadal function affected by smoking marijuana.
authors: Future Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, South Korea.
authors: Ju-Yeon
authors: JY
authors: Moon
authors: Forensic Science Division, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Seoul 137-730, South Korea.
authors: Woonyong
authors: W
authors: Kwon
authors: Forensic Science Division, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Seoul 137-730, South Korea.
authors: Sungill
authors: S
authors: Suh
authors: Forensic Science Division, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Seoul 137-730, South Korea.
authors: Jae Chul
authors: JC
authors: Cheong
authors: Forensic Science Division, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Seoul 137-730, South Korea.
authors: Moon Kyo
authors: MK
authors: In
authors: Future Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, South Korea.
authors: Bong Chul
authors: BC
authors: Chung
authors: Forensic Science Division, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Seoul 137-730, South Korea. Electronic address: paxus@spo.go.kr.
authors: Jin Young
authors: JY
authors: Kim
authors: Future Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, South Korea. Electronic address: mh_choi@kist.re.kr.
authors: Man Ho
authors: MH
authors: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D004845:Epitestosterone / Q000652:urine*; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D056910:Republic of Korea; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D013739:Testosterone / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D004845:Epitestosterone
keywords: Epitestosterone; IQ1; IQ3; Korean; Marijuana; Max; Min; T/E ratio; Testosterone; interquartile 1 (25% quartile); interquartile 3 (75% quartile); maximum; minimum