EFFECTS OF LITHIUM-CARBONATE ON REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES IN HEALTHY-MEN - RELATIONSHIP WITH BODY-WEIGHT REGULATION - A PILOT-STUDY

1. To test the hypothesis that lithium-induced body weight gain is rel ated to an unbalance in the reproductive hormones, lithium carbonate ( 900 mg/day) or placebo was administered to healthy men for 1 month. 2. Body weight, skin folds and the serum levels of thyrotropic hormone, tetraiodothyroxine, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizi ng hormone, testosterone (T-5), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) , estradiol (E-2), cortisol, the ratios E-2/T-5 and T-5/DHEA-S, and bl ood lipids were evaluated before and during treatment. 3. Body weight, skin folds, hormones and lipids serum levels were not significantly a ffected by the treatment with Li. These results agree with previous re ports of lack of effects of 1 month-ii administration on appetite and body weight in normal male subjects (Chen et al., 1992), and question the appropriateness of studying Li-induced obesity in ealthy volunteer s, given the shelf-term administration and tow doses of Li that must b e used. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.