[The effect of alcohol on bone mineral density in men]

Alcohol abuse is an essential factor promoting an excessive reduction of bone mass during the normal male aging. Authors present an issue of osteopenia and osteoporosis in men, that sometimes is due to the long-term bone tissue exposition on ethanol. They also present actual views on the pathogenesis of this pathology. Ethanol impairs mainly an osteoblastic activity that results in reduced bone formation and mineralisation. Affecting the osteoclasts' function, alcohol is also able to induce bone resorption. Despite the direct toxic effect of ethanol on bone tissue, the indirect influence of ethanol on metabolism of hormones participating in bone homeostasis has been revealed. In chronic alcoholics the deficiency of active metabolites of vitamin D is often observed. The findings on parathormone activity in alcohol male abusers are not consistent. Additionally, chronic alcoholism is frequently accompanied by an increase of cortisol levels, andropenia, dietary, vitamin and electrolyte deficiencies.