Selective responses of hormones involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and properties of erythrocyte membranes during the menstrual cycle in premenopausal women consuming moderate amounts of alcohol.

The effects of chronic consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol on hormones associated with lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, plasma concentrations of triacylglycerol and cholesterol, insulin receptors on erythrocyte membranes, and erythrocyte membrane fluidity were studied during three phases of the menstrual cycle in 37 premenopausal women. Subjects were given either 30 g ethanol or an equienergetic fruit juice for three menstrual cycles in a crossover design. Blood samples were analyzed during the luteal, midcycle, and follicular phases. Administration of alcohol induced a significant rise in plasma glucagon and cortisol uniformly across the entire menstrual cycle. A similar rise in plasma growth hormone was observed at midcycle during the period when subjects consumed alcohol. A marginal effect was observed on cholesterol and somatomedin C concentrations. Insulin binding to erythrocyte ghosts was not affected by either alcohol or menstrual-cycle phase. Erythrocyte membranes were more fluid during the follicular phase than during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle when the women were consuming the alcohol. There were no perceptible interactions between alcohol and phases of the menstrual cycle for the indexes studied, except membrane fluidity.