Chronobiological regulation of alcohol intake

Like other physiological functions, food intake and metabolism (including a lcohol consumption) in humans and animal models may be regulated by circadi an rhythm. For example, many studies of rodents have found that alcohol con sumption in these nocturnal animals peaks during their active dark period. This alcohol consumption pattern can be influenced, however, by experimenta l manipulation. One factor that has been proposed to play a role in regulat ing circadian alcohol consumption pattern is the hormone melatonin, which i s produced by the pineal gland. Research also indicates that the effects of lighting conditions on the alcohol consumption of animal models may be inf luenced by the differences among the strains of the laboratory animals used , variations in the type and administration schedule of the animals' alcoho l-containing diet, disruptions of the normal circadian rhythm, concurrent u se of other drugs, and properties of the light.