Alcohol intake, androgen and glucocorticoid steroids in premenopausal women using oral contraceptives: an interventional study

Long-term heavy alcohol intake is associated with endocrinological abnormal ities the mechanisms of which are still unclear. The objective of the prese nt study was to investigate the effect of alcohol intake on plasma and urin e glucocorticoid and androgen steroid levels in healthy premenopausal women using oral contraceptives. In a placebo-controlled interventional study wi th a cross-over design including nine premenopausal women using oral contra ceptives no effect of tolerance was observed with regard to the magnitude o f the acute transient alcohol-induced testosterone elevation after a 1-week alcohol drinking period (0.8 g/kg per day). At non-intoxicated time points elevated plasma testosterone and androstenedione levels were found in the afternoon but not in the morning during the alcohol drinking period compare d with placebo. An increase in plasma cortisol levels was observed after th e discontinuation of alcohol drinking. No effects were observed in total gl ucocorticoid conjugates in morning urine spot samples. An increase during t he alcohol period relative to placebo was, however, observed in the urine e tiocholanolone/androsterone, tetrahydrocortisol/allotetrahydrocortisol as w ell as the 20-hydroxy-/20-ketosteroid ratios. No consistent effect was obse rved in the urine (tetrahydrocortisol + allotetrahydrocortisol) /tetrahydro cortisone ratio. It is suggested that the alcohol-induced alterations in pl asma glucocorticoid and androgen levels during non-intoxicated conditions a re due to a change in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function. The effe cts observed in the conjugated urine glucocorticoid and androgen ratios are likely to be mediated by a change in the metabolism of these steroids in t he liver. The present results may be of relevance in the development of dis turbances in the glucocorticoid as well as sex steroid balance among heavy female drinkers. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.