Alcohol and hormones

Abstract

It is widely known that ethanol is consumed for its fear and anxiety reduction properties. Ethyl alcohol and its metabolic products contribute to changes in the functioning of many tissues and organs, enzymes and hormones, among them also some neuropeptides, which act as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators. Both ethanol and stress affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), which plays an important role in the etiology of the alcohol dependence syndrome. Abusing of alcohol causes liver cells degeneration, induces changes in pancreatic enzymes secretion, contributes to the development of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, secondary diabetes, and is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Understanding of these relationships and mechanisms of action of hormones after a load of alcohol may help in development of new drugs and more effective pharmacotherapy of alcoholism.