Serum testosterone level in Nigerian marijuana and cigarette smokers

Aim: To evaluate the effects of marijuana and cigarette smoke on serum testosterone level in male marijuana and cigarette smokers.

Methods: Testosterone was estimated using enzyme immunoassay on micro plate format in 30 marijuana smokers, 15 cigarette smokers and 25 sex, age matched non-smokers as controls. Body mass index (BMI) of all subjects was also calculated.

Results: There was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in testosterone level in marijuana smokers (5.33±3.5ng/ml) when compared with non-smokers (8.5±2.4ng/ml) but showed no significant difference statistically (P>0.05) when compared with cigarette smokers (5.4±1.5ng/ml). A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed when cigarette smokers were compared with non-smokers. The BMI of marijuana smokers was significantly higher when compared with cigarette smokers and non-smokers but no significant difference was observed between cigarette smokers and non-smokers.

Conclusion: These differences are attributed to the psychoactive chemical and pro-oxidants as well as oxidants present in marijuana and cigarette smoke which alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal integrity. We therefore recommend that stringent measures should be put in place to curb the indiscriminate use of the substances and also smoking history should be considered in the diagnosis of infertility in males.