Bernard Allen
Question:254 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on recent scientific findings that men who eat too much liquorice can suffer from loss of libido and other sexual problems. [23369/99]
Written Answers. - Scientific Research.
A search of the literature has not revealed any recently published new scientific findings in the mainstream, peer reviewed medical journals on the relationship between licorice and loss of libido and other sexual problems. Over the years, a number of references have been made to the physiological effect of licorice, both taken as a constituent of chewing gum and in certain therapeutic agents. Of particular interest are cases reported in which patients suffered from high blood pressure, low serum potassium levels and other physiological disturbances. Licorice also has oestrogenic effects, manufactures female hormones, which may explain its ability to affect male libido and cause other sexual problems. It would appear that some individuals are more predisposed than others to suffer this effect of licorice. In the literature, doctors are recommended to consider the regular use of licorice in taking the history of patients who present with hypertension or the other conditions mentioned above.