Effects of moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages on endocrine function in postmenopausal women. Bases for...

That alcoholic beverage consumption has not yet received attention as a variable that might influence the estrogenization of postmenopausal women is discussed within the context of the growing proportion of postmenopausal women in the population, their disease risk vis-à-vis estrogenization, and survey findings that report that the majority of postmenopausal women use alcoholic beverages to at least some degree. The available literature is reviewed concerning the effects of acute or chronic ethanol administration, alcoholic beverage consumption, or the administration of phytoestrogen-containing congeners of bourbon on the endocrine status of postmenopausal women or relevant animal models. The basic components of postmenopausal endocrine function and the factors known to affect endocrine status are presented. The importance of incorporating known endocrine-modulating factors into the design of future studies so as to maximize the detection of alcohol effects in postmenopausal women is emphasized.