Cleo L Crunelle1, Delphine Cappelle2, Adrian Covaci3, Alexander L N van Nuijs4, Kristof E Maudens5, Bernard Sabbe6, Geert Dom7, Peter Michielsen8, Michel Yegles9, Hugo Neels10. 1. Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: cleo.crunelle@gmail.com. 2. Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: delphine.cappelle@gmail.com. 3. Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: adrian.covaci@uantwerpen.be. 4. Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: alexander.vannuijs@uantwerpen.be. 5. Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: kristof.maudens@uantwerpen.be. 6. Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: bernard.sabbe@uantwerpen.be. 7. Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: geert.dom@fracarita.org. 8. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, B2650 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: peter.michielsen@uza.be. 9. Laboratoire National de Santé, Service de Toxicologie, L3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg. Electronic address: michel.yegles@lns.etat.lu. 10. Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Toxicology Laboratory, ZNA Stuivenberg, Lange Beeldekenstraat 267, B2060 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: Hugo.Neels@zna.be.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a minor alcohol metabolite that accumulates in hair and is proposed as a stable marker for the detection of chronic and excessive alcohol consumption above a cut-off level of 30pg/mg hair. A correlation between drinking behavior and EtG hair concentrations is observed, but large variability exists. AIMS: To investigate the correlation between alcohol consumption and hair EtG concentrations in alcohol dependent patients, and the effect of gender differences as a factor for the variability on this correlation. METHODS: EtG was measured by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in the hairs (first 3cm) of 36 alcohol dependent patients (25 males/11 females) starting and alcohol detoxification program. Factors that possibly influence EtG content in hair (except age and gender) were excluded. Detailed retrospective alcohol consumption was obtained over the last 3 months using the Timeline Follow Back interview. RESULTS: Median total alcohol consumption over 3 months was 13,050g pure alcohol (range 60-650g/day). Hair EtG concentrations varied between 32 and 662pg/mg. There was a statistically significant linear and positive correlation between hair EtG and amounts of alcohol consumed (Pearson r=0.83; p<0.001), in both males (Pearson r=0.83; p<0.001) and females (Pearson r=0.76; p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: There is a linear correlation, with no significant effect of gender, between hair EtG concentrations and amounts of alcohol consumed in alcohol-dependent individuals. Analysis of EtG in hair can be applied to estimate retrospective alcohol consumption in both male and female alcohol dependent subjects using the same cut-off.
BACKGROUND:Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a minor alcohol metabolite that accumulates in hair and is proposed as a stable marker for the detection of chronic and excessive alcohol consumption above a cut-off level of 30pg/mg hair. A correlation between drinking behavior and EtG hair concentrations is observed, but large variability exists. AIMS: To investigate the correlation between alcohol consumption and hair EtG concentrations in alcohol dependent patients, and the effect of gender differences as a factor for the variability on this correlation. METHODS:EtG was measured by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in the hairs (first 3cm) of 36 alcohol dependent patients (25 males/11 females) starting and alcohol detoxification program. Factors that possibly influence EtG content in hair (except age and gender) were excluded. Detailed retrospective alcohol consumption was obtained over the last 3 months using the Timeline Follow Back interview. RESULTS: Median total alcohol consumption over 3 months was 13,050g pure alcohol (range 60-650g/day). Hair EtG concentrations varied between 32 and 662pg/mg. There was a statistically significant linear and positive correlation between hair EtG and amounts of alcohol consumed (Pearson r=0.83; p<0.001), in both males (Pearson r=0.83; p<0.001) and females (Pearson r=0.76; p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: There is a linear correlation, with no significant effect of gender, between hair EtG concentrations and amounts of alcohol consumed in alcohol-dependent individuals. Analysis of EtG in hair can be applied to estimate retrospective alcohol consumption in both male and female alcohol dependent subjects using the same cut-off.
Authors: Hilda L Gutierrez; Lauren Hund; Shikhar Shrestha; William F Rayburn; Lawrence Leeman; Daniel D Savage; Ludmila N Bakhireva Journal: Alcohol Date: 2015-07-21 Impact factor: 2.405
Authors: Janique Arnts; Benedict T K Vanlerberghe; Sylvia Roozen; Cleo L Crunelle; Ad A M Masclee; Steven W M Olde-Damink; Ron M A Heeren; Alexander van Nuijs; Hugo Neels; Frederik Nevens; Jef Verbeek Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2020-12-25 Impact factor: 3.455