TY - JOUR
T1 - Correlations between sex-related hormones, alcohol dependence and alcohol craving
AU - Ho, Ada M.C.
AU - Geske, Jennifer R.
AU - Bakalkin, Georgy
AU - Winham, Stacey J.
AU - Karpyak, Victor M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by Mayo Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology and Mayo Clinic NIH Relief Grant Program awarded to VMK, SJW, and AMH. The funding source had no role in study design, data collection, data interpretation, the writing of the report, nor the decision to submit for publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Authors
PY - 2019/4/1
Y1 - 2019/4/1
N2 - Background: Sex-related differences in the susceptibility, progression, and treatment response in alcohol-dependent subjects have been repeatedly reported. In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations of the sex-related hormone/protein levels with alcohol dependence (AD) and alcohol craving in male and female subjects. Methods: Plasma sex-related hormones (estradiol, estrone, total testosterone, progesterone, follicle stimulated hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone), and sex hormone binding globulin were measured by mass spectrometry or automated immunoassays from 44 recently-abstained subjects (29 males and 15 females; mean age = 45.9 ± 15.6) meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for AD and 44 age-, sex- and race-matched non-AD controls. Conditional logistic regression was conducted to examine the association of sex-related hormone and protein levels with AD risk, accounting for matching variables. Their associations with alcohol craving scales (Penn Alcohol Craving Scale and Inventory of Drug-Taking Situations) were assessed in AD subjects. Results: Plasma FSH level was significantly higher in AD males (10.3 ± 9.8 IU/L) than control males (8.0 ± 15.9 IU/L; p = 0.005, p corrected = 0.035). We also found a significant inverse correlation of FSH level with propensity to drink in negative emotional situations (Spearman's rho=-.540; p = 0.021) and positive correlations between progesterone level and craving intensity (Spearman's rho=.464; p = 0.020) and between total testosterone level and propensity to drink under temptations (adjusted for no-drinking days; β=6.496; p = 0.041) in AD males. Conclusions: These results suggest that FSH, progesterone, and testosterone levels may be associated with AD and alcohol craving in AD males. Future research is needed to replicate these findings and investigate the underlying biological mechanisms.
AB - Background: Sex-related differences in the susceptibility, progression, and treatment response in alcohol-dependent subjects have been repeatedly reported. In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations of the sex-related hormone/protein levels with alcohol dependence (AD) and alcohol craving in male and female subjects. Methods: Plasma sex-related hormones (estradiol, estrone, total testosterone, progesterone, follicle stimulated hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone), and sex hormone binding globulin were measured by mass spectrometry or automated immunoassays from 44 recently-abstained subjects (29 males and 15 females; mean age = 45.9 ± 15.6) meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for AD and 44 age-, sex- and race-matched non-AD controls. Conditional logistic regression was conducted to examine the association of sex-related hormone and protein levels with AD risk, accounting for matching variables. Their associations with alcohol craving scales (Penn Alcohol Craving Scale and Inventory of Drug-Taking Situations) were assessed in AD subjects. Results: Plasma FSH level was significantly higher in AD males (10.3 ± 9.8 IU/L) than control males (8.0 ± 15.9 IU/L; p = 0.005, p corrected = 0.035). We also found a significant inverse correlation of FSH level with propensity to drink in negative emotional situations (Spearman's rho=-.540; p = 0.021) and positive correlations between progesterone level and craving intensity (Spearman's rho=.464; p = 0.020) and between total testosterone level and propensity to drink under temptations (adjusted for no-drinking days; β=6.496; p = 0.041) in AD males. Conclusions: These results suggest that FSH, progesterone, and testosterone levels may be associated with AD and alcohol craving in AD males. Future research is needed to replicate these findings and investigate the underlying biological mechanisms.
KW - Alcohol dependence
KW - Alcohol use disorders
KW - Craving
KW - Sex differences
KW - Sex hormones
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U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.01.029
DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.01.029
M3 - Article
C2 - 30840924
AN - SCOPUS:85062279195
SN - 0376-8716
VL - 197
SP - 183
EP - 190
JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
ER -