The association of testosterone with nicotine use in young adult females

This pilot laboratory study examined the relationship of testosterone level s, carbon monoxide (CO) levels, current and adolescent nicotine use, and hi stories of pubertal onset in 30 young adult female smokers. These females h ad completed questionnaires regarding nicotine use in the 7th through 10th grades, and again at age 21 as part of a cohort study of drug use. In addit ion, history of pubertal onset was obtained at age 21, as were testosterone and CO levels. Testosterone levels were positively correlated with cigaret te use in the last 30 days (P less than or equal to .01), CO levels (P less than or equal to .05), cigarette use reported in the 7th and 10th grades ( P less than or equal to .05), and negatively correlated with age of puberta l onset (P less than or equal to .001). The relationship of testosterone to nicotine will be discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.