TITLE:
The Reproductive and Thyroid Hormonal Profile of Khat (Catha Edulis) Chewers
AUTHORS:
Saeed S. Al-Ghamdi
KEYWORDS:
Estradiol (E2); Free Thyroxine (FT4); Free Triiodothyronine (FT3); Thyrotropin Stimulating Hormone (TSH); Prolactin; Testosterone; Cortisol; Khat
JOURNAL NAME:
Pharmacology & Pharmacy,
Vol.3 No.4,
October
26,
2012
ABSTRACT: The effects of khat on the hormonal levels have been established; however, the effects on human beings are controversial. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible effects of khat on the levels of serum thyroid hormones, testosterone, estradiol (E2), prolactin and cortisol in men. A total of 50 blood samples were collected from healthy males who referred to chew khat for more than 10 years and analyzed for the above hormones. The results were compared to the hormonal levels of 35 non khat chewers. Chewing khat causes significant increases in the testosterone (P