What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Endocannabinoid.

Where was this research published?

Published in Communications medicine on April 16, 2026.

Endocannabinoid

Cannabis linked to higher testosterone levels in young men

Cannabis consumption is associated with altered steroid metabolism in young men.

Communications medicine • April 16, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

This study examined how cannabis consumption affects hormone levels in young men by analyzing 70 different steroids in blood samples from 47 cannabis users and 47 non-users. Using advanced laboratory techniques (LC-MS/MS), researchers discovered that cannabis users had significantly elevated levels of testicular androgens—particularly androstenedione, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone. These hormones are critical for male reproductive function, muscle development, and sexual characteristics. Importantly, the study found that adrenal androgens remained unchanged, suggesting that cannabis specifically affects the testes rather than the adrenal glands.

The research reveals a selective disruption of hormone production pathways in cannabis users. The pattern of elevated testicular androgens without changes in adrenal hormones points to cannabis potentially affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis—the brain-hormone system that controls male reproduction—or directly impacting testosterone synthesis in the testes. Additionally, researchers identified two progesterone metabolites that were markedly elevated in cannabis consumers, with one showing a dose-dependent relationship (meaning higher cannabis use correlated with higher hormone levels). This finding establishes a measurable biological marker for cannabis exposure.

These findings address a long-standing gap in cannabis research, as previous studies on male hormone effects have shown conflicting results. This comprehensive hormonal analysis provides the first clear evidence that cannabis consumption alters male endocrine function in young men, specifically increasing bioactive testicular androgens. However, the long-term implications remain unclear—whether this translates to meaningful changes in fertility, sexual function, or other health outcomes requires further investigation.

📄 Original Abstract

Cannabis use has been hypothesized to alter endocrine function. We aimed at investigating this hypothesis through extended steroid profiling in young men. Using liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), 70 endogenous steroids were reliably identified in serum samples from 47 cannabis consumers and 47 controls. Seven major steroids were subject to absolute quantification, while the others were considered as relative concentrations. This cross-sectional study shows a global increase in androgen levels among cannabis consumers. Androstenedione (A4), testosterone (T), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are among the most significantly increased steroids. In contrast, C11-oxy androgens show no significant change upon cannabis use. This pattern suggests that phytocannabinoids might selectively affect gonadal androgen synthesis without altering adrenal or peripheral pathways, possibly via direct effects on the testes, or disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis function. Additionally, two progesterone metabolites, 11β-hydroxyprogesterone (11β-OHP4) and 5β-dihydroprogesterone (5β-DHP4), are markedly elevated in cannabis consumers. When the cannabis user group is stratified according to the corresponding usage biomarkers, 11β-OHP4 proves to be a biomarker of general exposure, whereas 5β-DHP4 displays a dose-dependent relationship. These findings highlight the value of extended steroid profiling for investigating hormonal variations and evidence a possible link between cannabis consumption and altered male endocrine function. Up to now, the effect of cannabis use on male hormones has been unclear, with previous studies having differing findings. We compared circulating concentrations of several hundred hormones, including androgens, in a cohort of young Swiss men differing in cannabis use status. Cannabis users showed higher levels of bioactive testicular androgens, which play a critical role in male reproductive function. However, levels of androgens produced in the adrenal gland were not altered. These results suggest that cannabis use in young men perturbs testicular hormone synthesis.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Communications medicine
Published: April 16, 2026
PMID: 41991730
DOI: 10.1038/s43856-026-01469-x

Authors (9)

Mathieu Galmiche School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Isabel Meister School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Fanny Zufferey Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland.
Michel F Rossier Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland.
Rita Rahban Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland.
+4 more authors