Effects of alcohol on endocrine function in postmenopausal women: a review.

The rationale for evaluating potential endocrine effects of alcoholic beverage use or misuse in postmenopausal women is presented. Drinking prevalence data in postmenopausal women as well as the relevance of determining to what degree alcoholic beverage consumption may play a role in the risk of various diseases in these women via modulation of endocrine status in general and estrogenization in particular are included. Both human and animal studies relevant to alcoholic beverage consumption effects on endocrine function in females are reviewed. Data obtained in young women or animals that may be applicable to postmenopausal women are evaluated and data on these women are examined. There exists a paucity of definitive data concerning endocrine effects of alcohol in postmenopausal women. In an effort to foster and facilitate future studies that will be scientifically well founded and designed, aspects of normal postmenopausal endocrine function are described. Potential sites and mechanisms by which alcohol might be postulated to affect the endocrine status of postmenopausal women are reviewed.