ABSTRACT
Alcohol (ethanol) can impair the function of several parts of the endocrine system. Clinically important examples include hypogonadism in alcohol-dependent men and women, alcohol-induced hypoglycemia, pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome, low-T
syndrome, hypoparathyroidism, and osteopenia. Most of these syndromes result from a direct effect of alcohol (ethanol) and its metabolites (e.g., acetaldehyde) on hormone-producing cells, and can be observed before the manifestation of alcohol-induced liver disease.
