Moderate alcohol consumption in chronic form enhances the synthesis of cholesterol and C-21 steroid hormones, while treatment with Tinospora cordifolia modulate these events in men.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effects of Tinospora Cordifolia (TCJ) on urinary steroids and lipid metabolism in chronic and moderate alcoholics.
Results Summary
TCJ normalized steroid levels and improved the testosterone-to-androstenedione ratio in both plasma and urine, indicating modulation of lipid metabolism by inhibiting cholesterol and glucuronide synthesis.
Population
Asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics without chronic liver disease and healthy volunteers.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
14 days
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
chronic and moderate alcohol intake | increase | cholesterol synthesis | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | - | increased | #1 |
chronic and moderate alcohol intake | increase | cholesterol flow | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | - | directed its flow toward C-21 steroids | #2 |
chronic and moderate alcohol intake | increase | corticosterone | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | 2.456 fold | increased levels of | #3 |
chronic and moderate alcohol intake | increase | cortisol | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | 3.7 fold | increased levels of | #4 |
chronic and moderate alcohol intake | increase | estradiol | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | - | increased the synthesis of | #5 |
chronic and moderate alcohol intake | increase | clearance rate of other steroids | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | - | increased the clearance rate of other steroids through the formation of glucuronides | #6 |
chronic and moderate alcohol intake | decrease | testosterone (T) and androstenedione (A) | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | - | decreased the synthesis of | #7 |
chronic and moderate alcohol intake | increase | testosterone (T) and androstenedione (A) | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | - | increased the clearance rate of | #8 |
chronic and moderate alcohol intake | decrease | T/A ratio | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | from 2.31 to 1.59 in plasma | decreased | #9 |
chronic and moderate alcohol intake | decrease | T/A ratio | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | from 2.47 to 1.51 in urine | decreased | #10 |
standardized water extract of Tinospora cordifolia (TCJ) | no change | steroids | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | - | normalized the levels of | #11 |
standardized water extract of Tinospora cordifolia (TCJ) | increase | T:A ratio | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | to 2.0 in plasma | significantly improved the | #12 |
standardized water extract of Tinospora cordifolia (TCJ) | increase | T:A ratio | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | to 2.12 in urine | significantly improved the | #13 |
standardized water extract of Tinospora cordifolia (TCJ) | neutral | lipid metabolism | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | - | modulated | #14 |
standardized water extract of Tinospora cordifolia (TCJ) | decrease | cholesterol and glucuronides synthesis | asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics | - | inhibiting | #15 |
Chronic and heavy alcohol consumption disrupts lipid metabolism and hormonal balance including testosterone levels. However, studies doubt the relationship between moderate alcohol intake and sex hormone levels. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to establish the direct impact of chronic and moderate alcohol intake on cholesterol homeostasis and steroid hormone synthesis. Asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics (n=12) without chronic liver disease and healthy volunteers (n=14) were selected for the study. Furthermore, effects of standardized water extract of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd) Mier. (Menispermaceae) (TCJ), a well reported anti-alcoholic herbal drug, on urinary steroids was studied. This study included four groups, i.e. a) healthy; b) healthy+TCJ; c) alcoholic; d) alcoholic+TCJ. The blood and urine samples from each group were collected on day 0 and 14 of the post-treatment with TCJ and analyzed. Alcoholic blood samples showed the significantly higher values of traditional biomarkers γ-GT and MCV along with cholesterol, LDL, TGL and urinary methylglucuronide compared to healthy. Qualitative analysis of steroids showed that moderate alcohol intake in a chronic manner increased the cholesterol synthesis and directed its flow toward C-21 steroids; shown by increased levels of corticosterone (2.456 fold) and cortisol (3.7 fold). Moreover, alcohol intake also increased the synthesis of estradiol and clearance rate of other steroids through the formation of glucuronides. Therefore, it decreased the synthesis and increased the clearance rate of testosterone (T) and androstenedione (A). Quantitative analysis confirmed decreased T/A ratio from 2.31 to 1.59 in plasma and 2.47 to 1.51 in urine samples of alcoholics. TCJ intervention normalized the levels of steroids and significantly improved the T:A ratio to 2.0 and 2.12 in plasma and urine. The study revealed that TCJ modulated lipid metabolism by inhibiting cholesterol and glucuronides synthesis.