NCJ Number
157975
Date Published
1994
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This paper examines how alcohol interacts with hormones to produce various effects on vital body functions.
Abstract
Hormones are chemical messengers that control and coordinate the functions of all tissues and organs. Each hormone is secreted from a particular gland and distributed throughout the body to act on tissues at different sites. Two areas of the brain, the hypothalamus and the pituitary, release hormones, as do glands in other parts of the body. For hormones to function properly, their amount and the timing of their release must be finely coordinated, and the target tissues must be able to respond to them accurately. Alcohol can impair the functions of the hormone- releasing glands and of the target tissues, thereby causing serious medical consequences. Hormones control four major areas of body function: production, use, and storage of energy; reproduction; maintenance of the internal environment; and growth and development. This paper describes how, by interfering with hormone actions, alcohol can alter blood sugar levels and exacerbate or cause diabetes; impair reproductive functions; and interfere with calcium metabolism and bone structure, thus increasing the risk of osteoporosis; conversely, hormones also may affect alcohol consumption by influencing alcohol-seeking behavior. 39 references