Young Male Cannabis Users Show Higher Testosterone Levels, Swiss Study Finds
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT) found that young male cannabis users had higher testosterone levels than non-users. The research, published in Communications Medicine, examined hormone profiles in 94 young Swiss men.
Methodology and Participants
The study analyzed plasma samples from 94 Swiss conscripts aged 18–23. Of this group, 47 were confirmed cannabis users and 47 were non-users. Researchers measured 70 different steroid hormones using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, examining a broad panel that included androgens, progestogens, and estrogens rather than focusing solely on testosterone.
Key Hormonal Findings
- Testosterone: Cannabis users showed approximately 23% higher testosterone levels compared to non-users.
- Other Androgens: Users also had elevated levels of androstenedione and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
- Adrenal Androgens: Hormones produced by the adrenal glands showed no significant difference between the two groups.
- Progesterone Metabolites: Two compounds, 5beta dihydroprogesterone (5B-DHP4) and 11beta hydroxyprogesterone (11B-OHP4), were markedly higher in users. Researchers identified these as potential biomarkers for cannabis use, with 11B-OHP4 linked to general cannabis exposure and 5B-DHP4 linked to frequency of use.
- Pituitary Hormones: Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, which regulate the brain-testis pathway, did not differ significantly between groups.
Proposed Mechanism
The researchers concluded that the observed increase in testosterone appears to be localized to the testes, specifically the Leydig cells, rather than affecting the broader hormonal system.
Adrenal androgen production was unaffected.
Fertility Impact
The study found no direct link between the increased hormone levels and sperm quality or fertility. Authors of the study noted that the relationship between testosterone and fertility is complex, and the observed increase may reflect a compensatory response to reduced androgen receptor sensitivity, or a predisposition to risk-taking behavior in men with naturally higher testosterone.