Influence of alcohol on the hydromineral hormone responses to exercise in a warm environment

Alcohol consumption at rest is associated with disturbed water and salt regulation reflected by changed responses in the hydromineral hormones. This study investigated the effect of alcohol on endocrine systems involved in body fluid and electrolyte regulation under conditions of physical exercise in the heat, a situation in which under normal circumstances, the hydromineral hormones are stimulated in an attempt to preserve physiological homeostasis. Eight healthy male volunteers participated in two trials, which differed only in the presence or absence of alcohol (1.2 g alcohol.kg-1 body mass) in a cocktail drink. After consuming the cocktail, the subjects exercised for 60 min on a cycle ergometer (45% maximal oxygen consumption) at 35 degrees C. Compared to the control situation alcohol consumption (maximal plasma concentrations reaching about 1.08 g.l-1) produced an increase in body fluid loss (P < 0.05), but did not induce significant differences in plasma volume changes. Plasma volume decreased in both sessions during exercise (P < 0.01) and a significant rebound (P < 0.001) occurred during recovery. Osmolality was significantly higher (P < 0.001) during rest, exercise and recovery periods compared to the placebo trials, but no effect of alcohol on plasma Na+ and K+ concentrations was observed. In the alcohol test conditions, the arginine vasopressin (AVP) response to exercise was significantly dampened (P < 0.05). In contrast, alcohol had no effect on aldosterone or atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). These results demonstrated that alcohol ingestion augmented body fluid losses due to a suppressive effect on AVP during physical exercise conducted in a warm environment. The increase in osmolality due to alcohol did not influence the aldosterone and ANP responses, which would suggest that total osmolality does not play a major role in the regulation of these hormones.