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 related 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, luteinizing hormone, testosterone (T-5), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), estradiol (E-2), cortisol, the ratios E-2/T-5 and T-5/DHEA-S, and blood lipids were evaluated before and during treatment. 3. Body weight, skin folds, hormones and lipids serum levels were not significantly affected by the treatment with Li. These results agree with previous reports 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 volunteers, given the shelf-term administration and tow doses of Li that must be used. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.