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

Sigurjonsdottir, Helga Agusta
Axelson, Magnus
Johannsson, Gudmundur
Manhem, Karin
Nyström, Ernst
Wallerstedt, Sven

^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

Received July 20, 2005; Accepted December 01, 2005; previously published online February 23, 2006

Hormone Research in Paediatrics 65(2):p 106-110, February 2006. | DOI: 10.1159/000091302

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.