The liquorice effect on the RAAS differs between the genders

Liquorice-induced increase in blood pressure (BP) is more profound in subjects with essential hypertension (HT) than in healthy individuals. Liquorice induces pseudohyperaldosteronism by inhibiting the 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and is also known to inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). We explored the difference in response in BP, considering the RAAS and the genders.

Patients with HT (eight men and three women, mean age 40.7 years) and healthy controls (13 men and 12 women, mean age 31.2 years) consumed 100 g of liquorice (150 mg glycyrrhetinic acid) daily for 4 weeks.

Blood, urine samples and BP were evaluated before and after 4 weeks of liquorice consumption and 4 weeks after cessation of liquorice consumption.

The relative change in serum aldosterone levels differed between the genders (p < 0.02), men being more responsive than women, but not between patients with HT and healthy subjects.

The liquorice-induced inhibition of aldosterone secretion differs between the genders and is not influenced by the BP levels. This difference between the genders has not been exposed before.