Ethanol/"Performance" Link?

Larry Weisenthal said:

The following studies are very interesting.

Basically, the (Finnish) authors reported acute increases in serum testosterone in both men and
women following ingestion of a moderate dose of ethanol (0.5 gm/kg) or a little more than an ounce
in a 70 kg/155 pound person. This was true in both men and women. The effect was apparently
mediated through an inhibition in catabolism (breakdown) of testosterone by the liver.

Note that this is simply an acute effect. As noted below, chronic alcohol ingestion reduces
testosterone levels through an effect on gonadal production.

But the implications of an acute rise in testosterone levels are provocative and fascinating. Not
that I would ever advocate drinking and swimming (much less drinking and more dangerous
activities), I have had a couple of occasions in my life, when, for example, I've had a beer at
Silky Sullivan's Irish Pub in Fountain Valley (to watch a Michigan game on pay per view) and then
gone the one mile over to Los Caballeros Sports Club to drown the sorrows of the Michigan loss in
the pool, with, for example, a furious 1000. I've been surprised at my level of aggression and
performance. I wonder if anyone else can, in retrospect, recall such a correlation?

- Larry

1: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003 Apr;27(4):682-5.

Testosterone increases in men after a low dose of alcohol.

Sarkola T, Eriksson CJ.

Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki,
Finland.

BACKGROUND: Heavy acute alcohol drinking decreases blood testosterone in men due to an effect on
the testicular level. An acute increase in blood testosterone levels after a low alcohol dose has,
however, recently been reported in women. The objective of this investigation was to study the
effect of a low alcohol dose on testosterone in men and further elucidate the mechanism behind the
effect by using 4-methylpyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol metabolism. METHODS: A double-blind
placebo-controlled interventional crossover trial in random order (n =
13). RESULTS: After intake of alcohol (0.5 g/kg, 10%
w/v), an acute increase in plasma testosterone (from
13.5 +/- 1.2 nmol/liter to 16.0 +/- 1.6 nmol/liter, mean +/- SEM; p < 0.05), a decrease in
androstenedione (from 5.1 +/- 0.4 nmol/liter to 4.0 +/- 0.3 nmol/liter; p < 0.05), and an
increase in the testosterone:androstenedione ratio (from 2.8 +/- 0.3 to
4.2 +/- 0.4; p < 0.01) were observed. The effects were not observed during pretreatment with
4-methylpyrazole (10-15 mg/kg orally), which inhibited the ethanol elimination rate by 37 +/-
3%. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol intake affects the androgen balance in men through an effect mediated
by the alcohol-induced change in the redox state in the liver.

2: J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 May;86(5):1981-5.

The role of the liver in the acute effect of alcohol on androgens in women.

Sarkola T, Adlercreutz H, Heinonen S, von Der Pahlen B, Eriksson CJ.

Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki,
Finland.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and -adrenal axes are regarded as the main sites of the actions
of alcohol on steroids. In the present study the effect of alcohol (0.4-0.5 g/kg, orally) on
venous plasma and urinary androgens was investigated in 21 premenopausal women using oral
contraceptives as well as in 10 premenopausal nonusers. After intake of alcohol, an acute
elevation in plasma testosterone, a decline in androstenedione levels, and an elevation in the
ratio of testosterone to androstenedione were observed in both groups. The effects lasted
throughout the period of ethanol elimination and were abolished during pretreatment with
4-methylpyrazole (10-15 mg/kg, orally). The acute effects were higher in the group using oral
contraceptives than in the nonusers. The testosterone effect in plasma was reflected in the free
testosterone fraction. A decline in urinary androsterone and etiocholanolone levels, the principal
catabolic products of androgens, was observed during alcohol intoxication. In conclusion, the
present acute effects on plasma and urinary steroid hormones seem to be explained by an inhibited
catabolism mediated by the alcohol-induced change in the redox state in the liver. Our results
suggests that the liver should be included as a major site in the acute endocrinological effects
of alcohol on steroid hormones in women.

Unfortuneately, I think your example is not very good natural science because supposedly aggression
is increased by watching violent sports, and testosterone rises when you are hanging around with
other men. I tried to make fun of the second assertion to my sister, who is the mother of 3 boys,
and she disagreed, saying she is sure its true. Madelaine

When I was living in Florida, we were lucky enough to have as our masters coach an ex-Olympian who
won an Olympic Gold for 200 fly. She told me that it was quite common for her teammates to drink a
glass of champagne prior to competitions. She said it relaxed them and prevented nerves from
disrupting their swims. Maybe it also has the effect that you mentioned.

Don

"Larry Weisenthal" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The following studies are very interesting.

Basically, the (Finnish) authors reported acute increases in serum testosterone in both men and
women following ingestion of a moderate dose of ethanol (0.5 gm/kg) or a little more than an ounce
in a 70 kg/155 pound person. This was true in both men and women. The effect was apparently
mediated through an inhibition in catabolism (breakdown) of testosterone by the liver.

Note that this is simply an acute effect. As noted below, chronic alcohol ingestion reduces
testosterone levels through an effect on gonadal production.

But the implications of an acute rise in testosterone levels are provocative and fascinating. Not
that I would ever advocate drinking and swimming (much less drinking and more dangerous
activities), I have had a couple of occasions in my life, when, for example, I've had a beer at
Silky Sullivan's Irish Pub in Fountain Valley (to watch a Michigan game on pay per view) and then
gone the one mile over to Los Caballeros Sports Club to drown the sorrows of the Michigan loss in
the pool, with, for example, a furious 1000. I've been surprised at my level of aggression and
performance. I wonder if anyone else can, in retrospect, recall such a correlation?

- Larry

1: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003 Apr;27(4):682-5.

Testosterone increases in men after a low dose of alcohol.

Sarkola T, Eriksson CJ.

Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki,
Finland.

BACKGROUND: Heavy acute alcohol drinking decreases blood testosterone in men due to an effect on
the testicular level. An acute increase in blood testosterone levels after a low alcohol dose has,
however, recently been reported in women. The objective of this investigation was to study the
effect of a low alcohol dose on testosterone in men and further elucidate the mechanism behind the
effect by using 4-methylpyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol metabolism. METHODS: A double-blind
placebo-controlled interventional crossover trial in random order (n =
13). RESULTS: After intake of alcohol (0.5 g/kg, 10%
w/v), an acute increase in plasma testosterone (from
13.5 +/- 1.2 nmol/liter to 16.0 +/- 1.6 nmol/liter, mean +/- SEM; p < 0.05), a decrease in
androstenedione (from 5.1 +/- 0.4 nmol/liter to 4.0 +/- 0.3 nmol/liter; p < 0.05), and an
increase in the testosterone:androstenedione ratio (from 2.8 +/- 0.3 to
4.2 +/- 0.4; p < 0.01) were observed. The effects were not observed during pretreatment with
4-methylpyrazole (10-15 mg/kg orally), which inhibited the ethanol elimination rate by 37 +/-
3%. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol intake affects the androgen balance in men through an effect mediated
by the alcohol-induced change in the redox state in the liver.

2: J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 May;86(5):1981-5.

The role of the liver in the acute effect of alcohol on androgens in women.

Sarkola T, Adlercreutz H, Heinonen S, von Der Pahlen B, Eriksson CJ.

Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki,
Finland.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and -adrenal axes are regarded as the main sites of the actions
of alcohol on steroids. In the present study the effect of alcohol (0.4-0.5 g/kg, orally) on
venous plasma and urinary androgens was investigated in 21 premenopausal women using oral
contraceptives as well as in 10 premenopausal nonusers. After intake of alcohol, an acute
elevation in plasma testosterone, a decline in androstenedione levels, and an elevation in the
ratio of testosterone to androstenedione were observed in both groups. The effects lasted
throughout the period of ethanol elimination and were abolished during pretreatment with
4-methylpyrazole (10-15 mg/kg, orally). The acute effects were higher in the group using oral
contraceptives than in the nonusers. The testosterone effect in plasma was reflected in the free
testosterone fraction. A decline in urinary androsterone and etiocholanolone levels, the principal
catabolic products of androgens, was observed during alcohol intoxication. In conclusion, the
present acute effects on plasma and urinary steroid hormones seem to be explained by an inhibited
catabolism mediated by the alcohol-induced change in the redox state in the liver. Our results
suggests that the liver should be included as a major site in the acute endocrinological effects
of alcohol on steroid hormones in women.

Donald Graft said:

When I was living in Florida, we were lucky enough to have as our masters coach an ex-Olympian who
won an Olympic Gold for 200 fly. She told me that it was quite common for her teammates to drink a
glass of champagne prior to competitions. She said it relaxed them and prevented nerves from
disrupting their swims. Maybe it also has the effect that you mentioned.

Don

"Larry Weisenthal" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The following studies are very interesting.

Basically, the (Finnish) authors reported acute increases in serum testosterone in both men and
women following ingestion of a moderate dose of ethanol (0.5 gm/kg) or a little more than an
ounce in a 70 kg/155 pound person. This was true in both men and women. The effect was apparently
mediated through an inhibition in catabolism (breakdown) of testosterone by the liver.

<snip>

I wonder.... Every marathon I've ever volunteered at (not competed at, I'll stick to the dive 15's
thank you) has had a beer tent. _Every_ one. It's amazing to watch folks stumble across the line and
continue at near the same pace towards the nearest lager.

--Mike