Abstract
Smoking represents the most widespread substance dependence in the world. Nicotine alters women hormonal homeostasis.
Women smokers have higher testosterone and lower estradiol levels throughout life compared to nonsmokers. We monitored the effect of smoking discontinuation on steroid spectrum with 25 postmenopausal women smokers.
They had been examined before discontinuation of smoking and after 6, 12, 24 and 48 weeks of abstinence. Blood was collected to determine steroid spectrum (measured by GC-MS), luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and sex hormone binding globulin (measured by IRMA).
Repeated measures ANOVA model was used for evaluation of the data. In postmenopausal women, an increase in testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and other androgens occurred.
Neither nicotine replacement therapy nor weight changes nor age play a role in androgen level increase. The higher androgens levels correlated with failure in smoking cessation.
Women smokers have higher androgen levels, which might play a role in smoking dependence development. Women successful in smoking cessation, compared to the non-successful ones, have lower androgen levels initially and also after smoking discontinuation.