SELECTIVE RESPONSES OF HORMONES INVOLVED IN CARBOHYDRATE AND LIPID-METABOLISM AND PROPERTIES OF ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANES DURING THE MENSTRUAL-CYCLE IN PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN CONSUMING MODERATE AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL

The effects of chronic consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol on h ormones associated with lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, plasma conc entrations of triacylglycerol and cholesterol, insulin receptors on er ythrocyte membranes, and erythrocyte membrane fluidity were studied du ring three phases of the menstrual cycle in 37 premenopausal women. Su bjects were given either 30 g ethanol or an equienergetic fruit juice for three menstrual cycles in a crossover design. Blood samples were a nalyzed during the luteal, midcycle, and follicular phases. Administra tion of alcohol induced a significant rise in plasma glucagon and cort isol uniformly across the entire menstrual cycle. A similar rise in pl asma growth hormone was observed at midcycle during the period when su bjects consumed alcohol. A marginal effect was observed on cholesterol and somatomedin C concentrations. Insulin binding to erythrocyte ghos ts was not affected by either alcohol or menstrual-cycle phase. Erythr ocyte membranes were more fluid during the follicular phase than durin g the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle when the women were consumin g the alcohol. There were no perceptible interactions between alcohol and phases of the menstrual cycle for the indexes studied, except memb rane fluidity.