Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is one of the most serious substance abuse problems. It is generally accepted that nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco smoke alter endocrine functions in men and adverse reproductive outcomes, including deterioration of sperm. Studies on the effects of smoking and smoking cessation on male sex hormones are inconsistent. We studied changes of hormonal levels in men during smoking cessation and we looked for a possible predictive marker of success in smoking cessation.

Methods: We examined 76 men before initiating of smoking cessation and after 6 weeks and after a year of abstinence. Basic anthropometric data and testosterone, cortisol, dehydroepiandosterone, dehydroepiandosterone sulphate, LH, FSH and SHBG were measured using imunoanalysis. Kruskal-Wallis robust ANOVA model was used for evaluation of the data. The local Ethics Committee approved the study and all patients signed an informed consent form.

Results: Successful men in smoking cessation did not differ from unsuccessful ones in the levels of steroid hormones observed. There was a trend in levels of testosterone, men who failed to quit smoking even for a short time had lower levels of testosterone. After smoking cessation there were a statistically significant increase in BMI and decrease in levels of SHBG. Decrease in levels of testosterone and DHEA was statistically insignificant. There were no changes in levels of cortisol. Changes of SHBG and testosterone levels did not correlate with BMI.

Conclusion: One year of smoking cessation is associated with increase in BMI and decrease in SHBG, which are possible effects of smoking cessation. Long term study could clarify these founding. Because insult of smoking is long-term and one year is short period to reparation.

This work was supported by project “Advanced education of own staff in clinical and molecular endocrinology” (CZ.2.17/1.1.00/32386), IGA MZCR (grant numbers NT 12340) and GAUK (grant numbers 367511).

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This work was supported, however funding details unavailable.