Alcohol may inhibit the release of luteinizing hormone in animals and humans. Alcohol (ethanol) is able to stimulate the release of GABA and β-endorphin and inhibit the production of nitric oxide (which stipulates luteinizing hormone release). Drugs that block β-endorphin allow synthesis of nitric oxide in the presence of alcohol which suggests that the inhibitory effects of alcohol are mediated through the stimulation of β-endorphin. Alcohol can also block N-methyl-D-aspartic acid-induced LHRH release which is thought to be due to the release of GABA by alcohol. The inhibition of luteinizing hormone by alcohol therefore may relate to the release of β-endorphin and GABA that inhibit the release of luteinizing hormone using distinct pathways. One caveat that should be stated is that these results were from a cell culture study and as such their relevance to normal physiology should be taken in the context of interesting but not definitive. However, alcohol should always be moderated if health is important.
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