The majority of alcoholics are men and alcohol can deplete testosterone. Many males understand immediately that this could produce depression. Barrett-Connor, E., et. al., (1999) in a study of 856 men, 50 to 89 years old, found Beck Depression Inventory score varied inversely with free testosterone level, independent of age, or physical activity. Bioavailable testosterone was 17 percent lower, for depressed men. Statistically, the probability of a difference that large, was 7 in one thousand. (p=0.007 Alcohol severely depletes zinc and zinc is necessary for testosterone production and prevention of testosterone conversion to dihydrotestosterone, which causes male pattern baldness. 

Alcohol is directly toxic to the testes, causing reduced testosterone levels in men. In a study of normal healthy men who received alcohol for 4 weeks, testosterone levels declined after only 5 days and continued to fall throughout the study period (17). Prolonged testosterone deficiency may contribute to a "femininization" of male sexual characteristics, for example breast enlargement (18). pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa35.htm

Alcohol Alert National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism No. 26 PH 352 October 1994

Sarkar, D., et. al. (1998) observed, "Alcoholic men show a positive association between the presence of clinically apparent gynecomastia and elevated circulating levels of prolactin. These patients also show an elevation of plasma levels of estrogen, which is believed to be due to peripheral conversion of weak adrenal androgens to estrogen."

Testosterone has received undeserved bad press in the United States. Gynecomastia or production of female breast tissue in males, is often mentioned as a danger of testosterone supplementation. While almost nonexistent in weight rooms where people are alleged to be abusing steroids, gynecomastia is readily observable in older chronic alcoholics.

Increased testosterone levels appear to prevent benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH). BPH is a non-cancerous prostate gland enlargement, which interferes with urine flow, in older men. When the prostate gland enlarges, it constricts the urethra. Impaired sleep occurs, when men need to urinate frequently during the night. BPH is associated with elevated estrogen and decreased testosterone levels. BPH occurs in middle or older age men, when estrogen levels increase, while testosterone levels decrease. In France, BPH is treated with testosterone supplementation.

Testosterone supplementation appears safe, when limited to restoring testosterone to normal physiologic levels. Newer transdermal testosterone creams and gels bypass the gastrointestinal system, and more closely duplicate natural daily fluctuation of hormone levels, than weekly or monthly injections.