Comparison of serum fatty acid ethyl esters and urinary 5-hydroxytryptophol as biochemical markers of recent ethanol consumption

Alcohol Alcohol. 2005 May-Jun;40(3):214-8. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agh154. Epub 2005 Mar 29.

Abstract

Aims: To examine the effects of an acute dose of ethanol on serum fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) concentration and urinary 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL)/5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) ratio.

Methods: Sixteen (14 male, 2 female) heavy alcohol drinkers were tested in a single, 2-day long session. Six participants received 1.5 g/l of ethanol/l of body water (approximately 0.75 g/kg of body weight, low dose group: LD) and 10 participants received 2.0 g/l of ethanol ( approximately 1.0 g/kg of body weight, high dose group: HD) in four divided doses every 20 min. Blood, urine, and breath samples were collected repeatedly over 36 h following the ingestion of ethanol and were analyzed for the presence of FAEE, 5-HTOL/5-HIAA, and ethanol, respectively. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), a marker of chronic ethanol use, was also included.

Results: The breath ethanol level peaked approximately 1 h after the last dose, at 95 and 120 mg/dl for the LD and HD groups, respectively. The mean ratio of urinary 5-HTOL/5-HIAA was significantly elevated 5 and 9 h after ethanol administration, but returned to baseline 13 h after ethanol administration. This ratio was twice as high for the HD group compared with the LD group. Serum levels of FAEEs were significantly elevated at 5 h, but not 13 h after ethanol administration. There were no time-dependent changes in serum GGT levels.

Conclusions: Measuring the levels of FAEE and 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio provides a convenient method to detect recent, particularly binge-type, ethanol use, but these measures may have limited applicability in detecting ethanol use in traditional clinical trial settings.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / blood*
  • Alcohol Drinking / urine*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Esters
  • Fatty Acids / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / urine
  • Hydroxytryptophol / urine*
  • Male
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Esters
  • Fatty Acids
  • Hydroxytryptophol
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid