Effects of the menstrual cycle of white women on ethanol toxicokinetics

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the existing variations of the kinetics of ethanol in white women during the menstrual and luteal phases to further current understanding of the role of the menstrual cycle in gender differences in ethanol's adverse effects. Method: In a within-subjects design, 10 female white volunteers were administered a moderate dose of ethanol (0.3 g/kg) in the morning after an overnight fast. On each test day, blood samples were collected before ethanol administration so that hormonal (estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone) and biochemical (hepatic and renal functions) analyses could be performed. Blood samples were also drawn from each volunteer to determine BAC and to examine toxicokinetic differences between the two phases using classical and Widmark's measures. Results: The analysis of time-to-peak BAC in the two menstrual phases shows that there was no significant statistical difference when each phase was evaluated and in the interaction of the phase with time. The estimated toxicokinetic parameters did not show significant differences when the two phases were compared. Conclusions: Despite careful experimental design, which considered present debate and discussion in the literature, no significant differences between the two phases studied (menstrual and luteal) were observed.