Liquorice in Moderate Doses Does Not Affect Sex Steroid Hormones of Biological Importance although the Effect Differs between the Genders

Vol. 65, No. 2, 2006

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Original Paper

Liquorice in Moderate Doses Does Not Affect Sex Steroid Hormones of Biological Importance although the Effect Differs between the Genders
Helga Agusta Sigurjonsdottir^a, Magnus Axelson^b, Gudmundur Johannsson^a, Karin Manhem^c, Ernst Nyström^a, Sven Wallerstedt^c

^aDepartment of Endocrinology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Sahlgrenska, Göteborg,
^bDepartment of Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, and
^cDepartment of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Göteborg, Sweden

Address of Corresponding Author

Horm Res 2006;65:106-110 (DOI: 10.1159/000091302)

Key Words

11-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Liquorice
Androgen hormones
Sex steroid hormones

Abstract

Background/Aim: Liquorice is commonly consumed, at least in the western world, and we have earlier shown that even moderate doses of liquorice have significant effects on the cortisol metabolism by inhibiting 11 beta -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2. The suggestion that liquorice decreases the testosterone levels in men makes it vital to study the effect of moderate doses of liquorice on sex steroid hormones. Methods: Fifteen women and 21 men (healthy volunteers and subjects with essential hypertension) consumed 100 g of liquorice (150 mg glycyrrhetinic acid) daily in a 9-week, open-treatment trial. Blood and 24-hour urine samples were collected for hormone analysis before and after 4 weeks of liquorice consumption and 4 weeks after cessation of liquorice intake. Results: The liquorice induced a moderate decrease in the serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrostenedione sulphate in men (p = 0.002). The relative change in serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate differed between the genders (p = 0.03). No significant changes were observed in the serum testosterone levels after 4 weeks of liquorice consumption, and the urine excretion of androgens (etiocholanolone and androstenedione) did not change. Conclusions: Liquorice in moderate doses primarily affects the cortisol metabolism and only marginally the androgen hormones. Gender may influence the action of liquorice.

Author Contacts

Helga Ðgústa Sigurjónsdóttir, MD, PhD
Department of Endocrinology, Gröna Stråket 8
Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Sahlgrenska
SE-413 45 Göteborg (Sweden)
Tel. +46 31 342 7058, Fax +46 31 821 524, E-Mail helga.sigurjonsdottir@medic.gu.se

Article Information

Received: July 20, 2005
Accepted: December 1, 2005
Published online: February 3, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 28

Medline Abstract (ID 16462145)

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