A recent study from the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology suggests that hormonal and biochemical factors play a significant role in alcohol dependence, potentially indicating that men and women with alcohol use disorder may require tailored treatment approaches.
“This is the first large study to confirm that some of the variability in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and related problems is associated with particular combinations of hormones and chemical biomarkers in men and in women. It may mean that sex-specific treatments can be tailored to improve responses for men and women with alcohol problems” said lead researcher Victor Karpyak, Professor of Psychiatry at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota (USA). This work is presented at the ECNP Congress in Milan, Italy.
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As part of a research project researching the alcohol dependence medication acamprosate, the researchers looked at hormonal and protein markers of 268 men and 132 women with Alcohol Use Disorder. They correlated these markers with psychological markers, such as depressed mood, anxiety, craving, alcohol consumption and treatment outcomes during the first 3 months of treatment.
At the beginning of the trial – before anyone had taken any medication – the researchers tested men and women for several sex-specific blood markers, including sex hormones (testosterone, estrogens, progesterone) as well as proteins known to impact their reproduction (such as follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone) or bioavailability of these hormones in the blood (albumin and sex hormone-binding globulin).
The study revealed that at the start of the trial, men with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) who exhibited symptoms of depression and a strong desire for alcohol also had lower levels of the hormones testosterone, estrone, estradiol, and the protein sex hormone binding globulin. However, no similar connections were observed in women with AUD.
The researchers said their findings suggest that the relationship between biochemical markers and relapse rates differs between men and women. For example, women with higher levels of testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, and albumin were more likely to relapse during the initial three months of treatment compared to women with lower levels. No such associations were observed in men.
These hormones and proteins are known to influence behavior, and their study demonstrates a correlation between their levels and various behavioral aspects of alcohol use disorder. However, it’s important to note that this correlation doesn’t necessarily imply causation.
The results highlight the need for personalized treatment approaches for alcohol use disorder, as the underlying biochemical and psychological factors may vary significantly between men and women. This implies that a treatment plan effective for one gender may not be as successful for the other
