Studied intervention
Alcohol is ethanol, a compound made by fermenting sugars that slows signaling between nerve cells and so dampens activity in the brain. Research has mostly looked at its effects on hormones, and the evidence is limited: testosterone results were mixed across five studies, while follicle-stimulating hormone went up in a small group of people. Estrogen, cortisol, and adrenaline showed no clear difference, and these studies were tiny, often with fewer than 30 people.
Sources: PMID 15166654; PMID 3126515
- Updated
- How we grade
- 9 studies cited
Alcohol is not a dietary supplement. This page summarizes research on alcohol as an intervention studied in clinical trials. Evidence grades reflect study quality, not a recommendation.
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 7
- Outcomes
- 24
- Graded outcomes
- 0027
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Testosterone Mixed effect | 5 studies | 10 people | ||||
Studies that measured testosterone
| ||||||
| Estrogen No effect on estrogen during hangover | NoneNo effect | 10 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Small increase in FSH | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 8 people | |||
| Estrogen No significant effect on estrogen | NoneNo effect | 27 people | ||||
| Testosterone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 5 studies | 135 people | |||
Studies that measured testosterone
| ||||||
| Growth Hormone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 8 people | |||
| Luteinizing Hormone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 18 people | ||||
Muscle Recovery
- Adrenaline
- Testosterone: improves
- Cortisol: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrenaline No effect on adrenaline | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 9 people | |||
Studies that measured adrenaline | ||||||
| Testosterone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 5 studies | 19 people | |||
Studies that measured testosterone
| ||||||
| Cortisol | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 9 people | |||
Studies that measured cortisol | ||||||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 10 people | |||
Studies that measured power output | ||||||
Sexual Health
- Cortisol
- Estrogen
- Testosterone: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortisol No effect on cortisol | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 8 people | |||
Studies that measured cortisol | ||||||
| Estrogen No effect | NoneNo effect | 8 people | ||||
| Testosterone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 5 studies | 24 people | |||
Studies that measured testosterone
| ||||||
| Follicle-Stimulating Hormone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 8 people | ||||
| Luteinizing Hormone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 24 people | ||||
| Prolactin | Improves (the measure goes up) | 8 people | ||||
Stress
- Cortisol
- Testosterone: improves
- Estrogen: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortisol No effect on cortisol | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 8 people | |||
Studies that measured cortisol | ||||||
| Testosterone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 5 studies | 8 people | |||
Studies that measured testosterone
| ||||||
| Estrogen | Changes; see studies | 8 people | ||||
| Prolactin | Improves (the measure goes up) | 8 people | ||||
Metabolic Health
- Estrogen
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estrogen No effect on estrogen | NoneNo effect | 17 people |
General Athletic Performance
- Testosterone: improves
- Power Output: worsens
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Testosterone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 5 studies | 10 people | |||
Studies that measured testosterone
| ||||||
| Power Output Small Detriment | Worsens (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 10 people | ||
Studies that measured power output | ||||||
Key findings
- Testosterone
- Follicle-Stimulating HormoneImproves (the measure goes up)
- Adrenaline
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- Grade C
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Studies cited
9 studies from PubMed
- Sex hormones and adrenocortical steroids in men acutely intoxicated with ethanol
- Effects of acute alcohol intake on pituitary-gonadal hormones in normal human males
- Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testosterone, and estradiol levels in middle-aged men and postmenopausal women: a diet-controlled intervention study
- The pulsatile secretion of gonadotropins and growth hormone, and the biological activity of luteinizing hormone in men acutely intoxicated with ethanol
- Acute effect of alcohol on androgens in premenopausal women
- Acute ethanol administration enhances plasma testosterone levels following gonadotropin stimulation in men
- Testosterone increases in men after a low dose of alcohol
- Effect of acute postexercise ethanol intoxication on the neuroendocrine response to resistance exercise
- The effects of acute alcohol consumption on recovery from a simulated rugby match