Association study of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, impulsivity personality traits and moderate alcohol consumption in men

Abstract

This study focused on inspecting the relationship between impulsivity traits, salivary dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) concentrations, and moderate alcohol consumption in healthy subjects. In previous studies, impulsivity has been related to alcohol consumption and androgens. Limited research has focused on the sulfated form of DHEA-S and alcohol consumption or impulsivity. Moderate alcohol consumption can increase DHEA-S levels. Effects of alcohol, impulsivity and androgens levels may depend on age and gender. The participants were 120 healthy men (Mage = 44.39; SD = 12.88). The results showed positive correlations between DHEA-S and alcohol consumption (r = 0.22; p < .01) and an impulsivity factor (r = 0.22; p < .01) controlling for age. Regression analysis showed a significant relationship between DHEA-S (p < .001), impulsivity factor and AUDIT (p < .05). Analyzing the two extreme impulsivity groups, an association is observed between DHEA-S with AUDIT scores (R2 = 0.12; p < .05) in the high impulsivity group, but not in the low impulsivity one. It is therefore concluded that the effect of moderate alcohol consumption is cumulative and slightly associated with levels of impulsiveness and DHEA-S.