Changes in Serum Testosterone and Estradiol Concentrations Following Acute Androstenedione Ingestion in Young Women

G. A. Brown; J. C. Dewey; J. A. Brunkhorst; M. D. Vukovich; D. S. King

doi:10.1055/s-2004-814201

Hormone and Metabolic Research, Table of Contents

Horm Metab Res 2004; 36(1): 62-66
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-814201

Original Clinical

Changes in Serum Testosterone and Estradiol Concentrations Following Acute Androstenedione Ingestion in Young Women

G. A. Brown¹ , J. C. Dewey¹ , J. A. Brunkhorst¹ , M. D. Vukovich² , D. S. King¹

¹Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Performance, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
²Human Performance Laboratory, South Dakota State University, Department of HPER, Brooking, SD

Present affiliation of Gregory A. Brown, PhD: Human Performance Laboratory, Dept. of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA

Abstract

The effect of androstenedione intake on serum hormone concentrations in women is equivocal. Therefore, we examined the hormonal response to androstenedione intake in healthy young (22.1 ± 0.4 y) women for 4 hours. On day 3 of the follicular phase, subjects ingested placebo, 100, or 300 mg androstenedione in a random, double-blind, cross-over manner. Blood samples were collected before and every 30 min for 240 min after intake. Serum androstenedione concentrations (means ± SE) increased above basal (6.2 ± 0.8 nmol/l) from 60 - 240 min for both 100 mg (22.6 ± 1.0 nmol/l at 240 min) and 300 mg (28.1 ± 1.3 nmol/l at 210 min). Androstenedione intake increased serum total testosterone concentrations above basal (1.2 ± 0.2 nmol/l) from 120 - 240 min (5.5 ± 0.9 nmol/l at 210 min) with 100 mg and from 60 - 240 with 300 mg (10.2 ± 1.6 nmol/l at 210 min). Androstenedione intake also increased serum estradiol concentrations (basal 191 ± 24 pmol/l) at 150 min with 100 mg (237 ± 35 pmol/l) and from 150 - 240 min with 300 mg (reaching 260 ± 32 pmol/l at 240 min). These data indicate that, in contrast to men, androstenedione intake in women increases serum testosterone concentrations.

Key words

Androstenedion - Hormone response - Women

Full Text

References

1 Brown G A, Vukovich M D, Reifenrath T A, Uhl N L, Parsons K A, Sharp R L, King D S. Effects of anabolic precursors on serum testosterone concentrations and adaptations to resistance training in young men. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2000; 10 340-359
2 King D S, Sharp R L, Vukovich M D, Brown G A, Reifenrath T A, Uhl N L, Parsons K A. Effect of oral androstenedione on serum testosterone and adaptations to resistance training in young men: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1999; 281 2020-2028
3 Earnest C P, Olson M A, Broeder C E, Breuel K F, Beckham S G. In vivo 4-androstene-3,17-dione and 4-androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol supplementation in young men. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000; 81 229-232
4 Rasmussen B B, Volpi E, Gore D C, Wolfe R R. Androstenedione does not stimulate muscle protein anabolism in young healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000; 85 55-59
5 Leder B Z, Longcope C, Catlin D H, Ahrens B, Schoenfeld D A, Finkelstein J S. Oral androstenedione administration and serum testosterone concentrations in young men. JAMA. 2000; 283 779-782
6 Ballantyne C S, Phillips S M, MacDonald J R, Tarnopolsky M A, MacDougall J D. The acute effects of androstenedione supplementation in healthy young males. Can J Appl Physiol. 2000; 25 68-78
7 Brown G A, Vukovich M D, Martini E R, Kohut M L, Franke W D, Jackson D A, King D S. Effects of androstenedione-herbal supplementation on serum sex hormone concentrations in 30- to 59-year-old men. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2001; 71 293-301
8 Brown G A, Vukovich M D, Martini E R, Kohut M L, Franke W D, Jackson D A, King D S. Endocrine responses to chronic androstenedione intake in 30- to 56-year- old men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000; 85 4074-4080
9 Kanayama G, Gruber A J, Pope H G Jr, Borowiecki J J, Hudson J I. Over-the-counter drug use in gymnasiums: an underrecognized substance abuse problem?. Psychother Psychosom. 2001; 70 137-140
10 Labrie F, Luu-The V, Lin S X, Labrie C, Simard J, Breton R, Belanger A. The key role of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in sex steroid biology. Steroids. 1997; 62 148-158
11 Mahesh V B, Greenblatt R B. The in vivo conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione to testosterone in the human. Acta Endrocrinol. 1962; 41 400-406
12 Kicman A T, Bassindale T, Cowan D A, Dale S, Hutt A J, Leeds A R. Effect of androstenedione ingestion on plasma testosterone in young women; a dietary supplement with potential health risks. Clin Chem. 2003; 49 167-169
13 Leder B Z, Leblanc K M, Longcope C, Lee H, Catlin D H, Finkelstein J S. Effects of oral androstenedione administration on serum testosterone and estradiol levels in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002; 87 5449-5454
14 Goldman H I, Becklake M R. Respiratory Function Tests. Am Rev Tuberc Pulm Dis. 1959; 79 457-467
15 Siri W E. Body composition from fluid spaces and density. In: Brozek JR, Henschel A (ed) Techniques for Measuring Body Composition. Washington, DC; National Academy of Sciences 1961: 223-244
16 Wilson K. Sex-related differences in drug disposition in man. Clin Pharmacokinet. 1984; 9 189-202
17 Horton R, Tait J F. Androstenedione production and interconversion rates measured in peripheral blood and studies on the possible site of its conversion to testosterone. J Clin Invest. 1966; 45 301-313
18 Gray A, Feldman H A, McKinlay J B, Longcope C. Age, disease, and changing sex hormone levels in middle-aged men: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991; 73 1016-1025
19 Eiletz J, Genz T, Pollow K, Schmidt-Gollwitzer M. Sex steroid levels in serum, myometrium, and fibromyomata in correlation with cytoplasmic receptors and 17 beta-HSD activity in different age-groups and phases of the menstrual cycle. Arch Gynecol. 1980; 229 13-28
20 Lindberg M C, McClenaghan C, Herrmann W L. Fate of injected dehydroisoandrosterone, testosterone, and dehydroiisoandrosterone sulfate in plasma in the human. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1966; 95 743-746
21 Mortola J F, Yen S S. The effects of oral dehydroepiandrosterone on endocrine-metabolic parameters in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990; 71 696-704
22 Morales A J, Haubrich R H, Hwang J Y, Asakura H, Yen S S. The effect of six months treatment with a 100 mg daily dose of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on circulating sex steroids, body composition and muscle strength in age-advanced men and women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1998; 49 421-432
23 Morales A J, Nolan J J, Nelson J C, Yen S S. Effects of replacement dose of dehydroepiandrosterone in men and women of advancing age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1994; 78 1360-1367
24 Padero M C, Bhasin S, Friedman T C. Androgen supplementation in older women: too much hype, not enough data. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002; 50 1131-1140

D. S. King,Ph. D.

Department of Health and Human Performance, 248 Forker Building · Iowa State University

Ames · Iowa 50011 · USA

Phone: + 1 (515) 294-8429,

Fax: + 1 (515) 294-8740

Email: dsking@iastate.edu