[ survey on testosterone blood levels in male irritable bowel syndrome patients in comparison with a control group]

Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] with chronic abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits in the absence of any organic cause is identified as the most common known gastrointestinal disorder. IBS affects both sexes and can occur at any age. Diagnosis of this disease in younger patients and women is more likely. In the pathophysiology of IBS, hereditary, environmental, visceral, psychological factors, emotional stress and to a lesser degree, brain factors and hormones, have been discussed. Cortricotropin releasing factor [CRF] has a strong relationship with stress. This factor plays a role in the production of several steroid hormones, including testosterone. During stress, CRF and its receptors' activities increase. This may play a role in some digestive system disorders such as IBS. This study was undertaken from December 2009 to June 2010 on 32 men diagnosed with IBS from a GI clinic, Iran as cases and 23 healthy men who were employees of Ali-Ebn-Abitaleb Hospital, as the control group. Serum testosterone levels were measured by ELISA. Demographic data and laboratory results were analyzed by SPSS version 15. The t-test compared serum testosterone levels of the two groups. Testosterone levels of the IBS cases were 5.73 +/- 3.5 ng/dl and the control group was 1.84 +/- 0.67 ng/dl in this study, which was statistically significant [P < 0.05]. Testosterone may play a role in the pathogenesis of IBS. More extensive studies should be done to discover the pathogenesis of IBS and role of this hormone