The association of testosterone with nicotine use in young adult females

This pilot laboratory study examined the relationship of testosterone levels, carbon monoxide (CO) levels, current and adolescent nicotine use, and histories of pubertal onset in 30 young adult female smokers. These females had completed questionnaires regarding nicotine use in the 7th through 10th grades, and again at age 21 as part of a cohort study of drug use. In addition, history of pubertal onset was obtained at age 21, as were testosterone and CO levels. Testosterone levels were positively correlated with cigarette use in the last 30 days ( P≤.01), CO levels ( P≤.05), cigarette use reported in the 7th and 10th grades ( P≤.05), and negatively correlated with age of pubertal onset ( P≤.001). The relationship of testosterone to nicotine will be discussed.