Early follicular phase hormone levels in relation to patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and coffee use☆

Abstract 

Objective: To examine the effects of alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco use on early follicular phase FSH, LH, E₂, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Patient(s): Four hundred ninety-eight women selected from the general population, ages 36–45, who were not currently pregnant, breast feeding, or using exogenous hormones.

Intervention(s): A general questionnaire assessing demography, anthropometry, and smoking habits and a standardized dietary questionnaire assessing food and beverage frequencies, including sources of alcohol and caffeine.

Main Outcome Measures: FSH, LH, E₂, and SHBG levels measured during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.

Result(s): Significant associations observed in a univariate analysis included age ≥40 and current smoking associated with higher FSH; higher body mass index (BMI) associated with lower SHBG levels; and daily alcohol use, cholesterol consumption greater than the median, and coffee use >1 cup/d associated with higher E₂ levels. In a multivariate model, total caffeine use was significantly associated with E₂ levels after adjustment for age, BMI, total calories, current smoking, alcohol, cholesterol consumption, and day of sampling. Early follicular phase E₂ increased from 28.2 pg/mL for women consuming ≤100 mg of caffeine to 45.2 pg/mL for women consuming ≥500 mg of caffeine per day, about a 70% increase.

Conclusion(s): Coffee consumption and total caffeine use may increase early follicular phase E₂ levels independent of related habits of alcohol or tobacco use.

Keywords:  FSH, LH, E₂, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco