WEED & TESTOSTERONE
Weed and testosterone
I have had quite a few readers write me asking if marijuana was affecting their Test levels. I personally don’t use it but since there has been such and interest expressed by my readers I will gladly do my testosterone duty. It seems the controversy about weed spans from political to legal to biological. The first study I came across studied 27 men, 21 to 26 years of age. Test measured daily before, during, and after a 21-day period of marijuana use. The mean pre-use testosterone level of 12 casual users was 988±93 ng per 100 ml (±S.E.M.), and that of 15 heavy users, who smoked an average of 119 cigarettes, was 1115±69 ng per 100 ml. No statistically significant changes in plasma testosterone levels were observed during and after the smoking period as compared with the pre-smoking base-line levels. [1] So this stud essentially said the data did not corroborate an association between chronic marijuana use and decreased plasma testosterone. [1]1 Well that seems like good news for all you tokers out there , But then the next study I came across totally contradicted the first one .This study used twenty men 18 to 28 years of age who used marijuana at least four days a week for a minimum of six months without use of other drugs during that interval . Their plasma Testosterone level was significantly lower in this group than that in the control-group.. Decreased testosterone was dose related. Abstention from marijuana use and stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin during continued marijuana use produced marked increases in testosterone.. Six of 17 men (35 per cent) showed low sperm concentration, and two men were impotent. Now this data totally contradicts the first study and suggests that chronic intensive use of marijuana may produce alterations in male reproductive physiology through central (hypothalamic or pituitary) action. ([3] So now what? As you can see the information about marijuana and testosterone is very contradictory and controversial. Which I suppose is the plight of marijuana. My next step in clarification was took for studies of all the studies, It is common for researchers compare all the current data for their own research. So the last study I reviewed was a study about all the contradictory studies.
All the contradictory reports on the effect of smoking marijuana on the plasma levels of testosterone in males. A re-analysis of existing data established that testosterone levels are indeed depressed both after smoking one single marijuana cigarette and after intravenous infusion THC. Simulation of the marijuana interaction, under the assumption that THC inhibits testosterone production or secretion, suggests a minimum of 24 hours are required for testosterone to return to pre-smoking levels. A series of clinical studies clarified the nature of the interaction. [4]
Conclusion – It appears that marijuana does in fact impair testosterone levels. Which I am sure is rather depressing information for many people out there. I will say that many people use marijuana instead of anti-anxiety pills which in that situation I was say weed is the much better choice. High stress causes increased cortisol and decreases testosterone so it may give someone less testosterone depression to ingest a small amount of THC to relieve anxiety and stress. Which is more detrimental to your test levels will depend on many variables obviously. So proceed with caution my friends.
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[1] Plasma Testosterone Levels before, during and after Chronic Marijuana Smoking Jack H. Mendelson, M.D., John Kuehnle, M.D., James Ellingboe, Ph.D., and Thomas F. Babor, Ph.D. N Engl J Med 1974; 291:1051-1055November 14, 1974DOI: 10.1056/NEJM197411142912003
[2] Acute effects of smoking marijuana on hormones, subjective effects and performance in male human subjects Edward J. Cone, Rolley E. Johnson, James D. Moore, John D. Roache Journal of Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior Volume 24, Issue 6, June 1986, Pages 1749–1754
[3] Depression of Plasma Testosterone Levels after Chronic Intensive Marihuana Use Robert C. Kolodny, M.D., William H. Masters, M.D., Robert M. Kolodner, A.B., and Gelson Toro, Ph.D. N Engl J Med 1974; 290:872-874April 18, 1974DOI: 10.1056/NEJM197404182901602
[4]journal of biology Effects of marijuana on testosterone in male subjectsAuthor links open the overlay panel. Numbers correspond to the affiliation list which can be exposed by using the show more link. Gene Barnett, Chia-Whei N. Chiang
Weed and testosterone
I have had quite a few readers write me asking if marijuana was affecting their Test levels. I personally don’t use it but since there has been such and interest expressed by my readers I will gladly do my testosterone duty. It seems the controversy about weed spans from political to legal to biological. The first study I came across studied 27 men, 21 to 26 years of age. Test measured daily before, during, and after a 21-day period of marijuana use. The mean pre-use testosterone level of 12 casual users was 988±93 ng per 100 ml (±S.E.M.), and that of 15 heavy users, who smoked an average of 119 cigarettes, was 1115±69 ng per 100 ml. No statistically significant changes in plasma testosterone levels were observed during and after the smoking period as compared with the pre-smoking base-line levels. [1] So this stud essentially said the data did not corroborate an association between chronic marijuana use and decreased plasma testosterone. [1]1 Well that seems like good news for all you tokers out there , But then the next study I came across totally contradicted the first one .This study used twenty men 18 to 28 years of age who used marijuana at least four days a week for a minimum of six months without use of other drugs during that interval . Their plasma Testosterone level was significantly lower in this group than that in the control-group.. Decreased testosterone was dose related. Abstention from marijuana use and stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin during continued marijuana use produced marked increases in testosterone.. Six of 17 men (35 per cent) showed low sperm concentration, and two men were impotent. Now this data totally contradicts the first study and suggests that chronic intensive use of marijuana may produce alterations in male reproductive physiology through central (hypothalamic or pituitary) action. ([3] So now what? As you can see the information about marijuana and testosterone is very contradictory and controversial. Which I suppose is the plight of marijuana. My next step in clarification was took for studies of all the studies, It is common for researchers compare all the current data for their own research. So the last study I reviewed was a study about all the contradictory studies.
All the contradictory reports on the effect of smoking marijuana on the plasma levels of testosterone in males. A re-analysis of existing data established that testosterone levels are indeed depressed both after smoking one single marijuana cigarette and after intravenous infusion THC. Simulation of the marijuana interaction, under the assumption that THC inhibits testosterone production or secretion, suggests a minimum of 24 hours are required for testosterone to return to pre-smoking levels. A series of clinical studies clarified the nature of the interaction. [4]
Conclusion – It appears that marijuana does in fact impair testosterone levels. Which I am sure is rather depressing information for many people out there. I will say that many people use marijuana instead of anti-anxiety pills which in that situation I was say weed is the much better choice. High stress causes increased cortisol and decreases testosterone so it may give someone less testosterone depression to ingest a small amount of THC to relieve anxiety and stress. Which is more detrimental to your test levels will depend on many variables obviously. So proceed with caution my friends.
________________________________________
[1] Plasma Testosterone Levels before, during and after Chronic Marijuana Smoking Jack H. Mendelson, M.D., John Kuehnle, M.D., James Ellingboe, Ph.D., and Thomas F. Babor, Ph.D. N Engl J Med 1974; 291:1051-1055November 14, 1974DOI: 10.1056/NEJM197411142912003
[2] Acute effects of smoking marijuana on hormones, subjective effects and performance in male human subjects Edward J. Cone, Rolley E. Johnson, James D. Moore, John D. Roache Journal of Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior Volume 24, Issue 6, June 1986, Pages 1749–1754
[3] Depression of Plasma Testosterone Levels after Chronic Intensive Marihuana Use Robert C. Kolodny, M.D., William H. Masters, M.D., Robert M. Kolodner, A.B., and Gelson Toro, Ph.D. N Engl J Med 1974; 290:872-874April 18, 1974DOI: 10.1056/NEJM197404182901602
[4]journal of biology Effects of marijuana on testosterone in male subjectsAuthor links open the overlay panel. Numbers correspond to the affiliation list which can be exposed by using the show more link. Gene Barnett, Chia-Whei N. Chiang