The endocrine system ensures proper communication between various organs of the body to maintain a constant internal environment. The endocrine system also plays an essential role in enabling the body to respond to and appropriately cope with changes in the internal or external environment, such as the response to stress and injury.
These functions of the endocrine system to maintain body homeostasis are supported by its communication with the nervous system, the immune system, and the body’s circadian mechanism. Chronic consumption of a large amount of alcohol disrupts the communication between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, causing hormonal imbalances that lead to profound and severe consequences at the physiological and behavioral levels.
These alcohol-induced hormonal dysregulations affect the entire body and can lead to various disorders such as stress abnormalities, reproductive deficits, body growth disorders, thyroid problems, immune disorders, cancer, bone diseases, and psychological and behavioral disorders.
Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am.: Effects of Alcohol on the Endocrine System
