Hormone Research in Paediatrics
Original Paper
Liquorice in Moderate Doses Does Not Affect Sex Steroid Hormones of Biological Importance although the Effect Differs between the GendersSigurjonsdottir H.A.a · Axelson M.b · Johannsson G.a · Manhem K.c · Nyström E.a · Wallerstedt S.caDepartment of Endocrinology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Sahlgrenska, Göteborg, bDepartment of Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, and cDepartment of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Göteborg, Sweden
|
|
Log in to MyKarger to check if you already have access to this content.
KAB
Buy a Karger Article Bundle (KAB) and profit from a discount!
If you would like to redeem your KAB credit, please log in.
Save over 20% compared to the individual article price.
Article / Publication Details
Received: July 20, 2005
Accepted: December 01, 2005
Published online: February 23, 2006
Issue release date: February 2006
Number of Print Pages: 5
Number of Figures: 1
Number of Tables: 2
ISSN: 1663-2818 (Print)
eISSN: 1663-2826 (Online)
For additional information: https://www.karger.com/HRP
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 11β-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.
© 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel
Related Articles:
References
- Stewart PM, Wallace AM, Valentino R, Burt D, Shackleton CH, Edwards CR: Mineralocorticoid activity of liquorice: 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency comes of age. Lancet 1987;2:821–824.
- Farese RV Jr, Biglieri EG, Shackleton CH, Irony I, Gomez-Fontes R: Licorice-induced hypermineralocorticoidism. N Engl J Med 1991;325:1223–1227.
- Davis EA, Morris DJ: Medicinal uses of licorice through the millennia: the good and plenty of it. Mol Cell Endocrinol 1991;78:1–6.
-
Liquorice; in: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2002.
-
mafco: The World Leader In Licorice Products. Camden, MacAndrews & Forbes Company, 1994.
- Walker BR, Edwards CR: Licorice-induced hypertension and syndromes of apparent mineralocorticoid excess. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 1994;23:359–377.
- Sigurjonsdottir HA, Ragnarsson J, Franzson L, Sigurdsson G: Is blood pressure commonly raised by moderate consumption of liquorice? J Hum Hypertens 1995;9:345–348.
- Milford DV, Shackleton CH, Stewart PM: Mineralocorticoid hypertension and congenital deficiency of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in a family with the syndrome of ‘apparent’ mineralocorticoid excess. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1995;43:241–246.
- Ulick S, Levine LS, Gunczler P, Zanconato G, Ramirez LC, Rauh W, Rösler A, Bradlow HL, New MI: A syndrome of apparent mineralocorticoid excess associated with defects in the peripheral metabolism of cortisol. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1979;49:757–764.
- Funder JW: Mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, receptors and response elements. Science 1993;259:1132–1133.
- Armanini D, Bonanni G, Palermo M: Reduction of serum testosterone in men by licorice. N Engl J Med 1999;341:1158.
- Sakamoto K, Wakabayashi K: Inhibitory effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on testosterone production in rat gonads. Endocrinol Jpn 1988;35:333–342.
- Armanini D, Bonanni G, Mattarello MJ, Fiore C, Sartorato P, Palermo M: Licorice consumption and serum testosterone in healthy man. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2003;111:341–343.
- Armanini D, Mattarello MJ, Fiore C, Bonanni G, Scaroni C, Sartorato P, Palermo M: Licorice reduces serum testosterone in healthy women. Steroids 2004;69:763–766.
- Akao T, Akao T, Aoyama M, Kobashi K: Metabolism of glycyrrhetic acid by rat liver microsomes. III. Male-specific glycyrrhetinate dehydrogenase. Biochem Pharmacol 1991;42:103–107.
- Akao T, Akao T, Hattori M, Namba T, Kobashi K: Inhibitory effects of glycyrrhetic acid and its related compounds on 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of rat liver cytosol. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1992;40:1208–1210.
- Latif SA, Conca TJ, Morris DJ: The effects of the licorice derivative, glycyrrhetinic acid, on hepatic 3 alpha- and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and 5 alpha- and 5 beta-reductase pathways of metabolism of aldosterone in male rats. Steroids 1990;55:52–58.
- Sigurjonsdottir HA, Franzson L, Manhem K, Ragnarsson J, Sigurdsson G, Wallerstedt S: Liquorice-induced rise in blood pressure: a linear dose-response relationship. J Hum Hypertens 2001;15:549–552.
- Sigurjonsdottir HA, Manhem K, Axelson M, Wallerstedt S: Subjects with essential hypertension are more sensitive to the inhibition of 11 beta-HSD by liquorice. J Hum Hypertens 2003;17:125–131.
-
Axelson M, Sahlberg BL, Sjövall J: Analysis of profiles of conjugated steroids in urine by ion-exchange separation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr 1981;224:355–370.
External Resources
-
Bradley JW: Distribution-Free Statistical Tests. London, Prentice-Hall, 1968.
-
Odén A, Wedel H: Arguments for Fisher’s permutation test. Ann Stat 1975;3:518–520.
External Resources
- Josephs RA, Guinn JS, Harper ML, Askari F: Liquorice consumption and salivary testosterone concentrations. Lancet 2001;358:1613–1614.
- Labrie F, Luu-The V, Lin SX, Simard J, Labrie C: Role of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in sex steroid formation in peripheral intracrine tissues. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2000;11:421–427.
- Albiston AL, Smith RE, Obeyesekere VR, Krozowski ZS: Cloning of the 11 beta HSD type II enzyme from human kidney. Endocr Res 1995;21:399–409.
- Maurer M, Trajanoski Z, Frey G, Hiroi N, Galon J, Willenberg HS, Gold PW, Chrousos GP, Scherbaum WA, Bornstein SR: Differential gene expression profile of glucocorticoids, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone in human cells. Horm Metab Res 2001;33:691–695.
- Horigome H, Hirano T, Oka K: Therapeutic effect of glycyrrhetinic acid in MRL lpr/lpr mice: implications of alteration of corticosteroid metabolism. Life Sci 2001;69:2429–2438.
- Werner S, Brismar K, Olsson S: Hyperprolactinaemia and liquorice. Lancet 1979;1:319.
Article / Publication Details
Received: July 20, 2005
Accepted: December 01, 2005
Published online: February 23, 2006
Issue release date: February 2006
Number of Print Pages: 5
Number of Figures: 1
Number of Tables: 2
ISSN: 1663-2818 (Print)
eISSN: 1663-2826 (Online)
For additional information: https://www.karger.com/HRP
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
Get Permission
PubMed ID
