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Ethyl glucuronide in hair of non-excessive alcohol consumers: correlations and gender influence

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Abstract

Hair ethyl glucuronide (hEtG) is a marker used for previous alcohol consumption. Correlations have been reported between the amount of alcohol consumed and hEtG concentration, but little has been published regarding relatively low levels of alcohol consumption and associated hEtG concentrations close to the limit of quantification (LOQ). Here, we investigate hEtG concentrations in non-excessive (<60 g/day) alcohol consumers and address the role of gender differences in hEtG concentration within this population. Daily alcohol consumption over a period of 3 months prior to hair collection was assessed using the Timeline Followback interview in 130 non-excessive (<60 g/day) alcohol consumers. Participants showed large variation in consumption, ranging from 10 g (~1 unit) to 3300 g (~330 units), during the prior 3 months. Eight individuals abstained from alcohol and served as a control group. HEtG was measured using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in hair segments 0–3 cm in length, and varied from <LOQ to 29.8 pg/mg, showing a linear correlation with the amount of alcohol consumed (r = 0.81; p < 0.001). Gender had no influence on this correlation (gender effect: p < 0.001) or on the detection of nominal hEtG concentrations (p < 0.001). In conclusion, our results showed a correlation between hEtG and the amount of alcohol consumed, with no difference shown based on gender, for non-excessive alcohol consumption, confirming earlier results for excessive alcohol drinkers. We thus propose lowering the current hEtG cut-off value for abstinence assessment to <5 pg/mg.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1-S.5.55, Wilrijk, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium

    Cleo L. Crunelle, Delphine Cappelle, Adrian Covaci, Alexander L. N. van Nuijs & Hugo Neels

  2. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium

    Eva Flamand & Jeroen Cox

  3. Toxicology and TDM Laboratory, ZNA Stuivenberg, Lange Beeldekenstraat 267, 2060, Antwerp, Belgium

    Mireille De Doncker & Hugo Neels

  4. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Antwerp, Belgium

    Peter Michielsen

  5. Laboratoire National de Santé, Service de Toxicologie, L-3401, Dudelange, Luxembourg

    Michel Yegles

Authors
  1. Cleo L. Crunelle
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  2. Delphine Cappelle
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  3. Eva Flamand
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  4. Jeroen Cox
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  5. Adrian Covaci
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  6. Mireille De Doncker
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  7. Alexander L. N. van Nuijs
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  8. Peter Michielsen
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  9. Michel Yegles
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  10. Hugo Neels
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cleo L. Crunelle.

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No conflict declared.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the ethics committee of Antwerp University Hospital, and was performed in accordance with the ethical standards set forth in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and later amendments. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Crunelle, C.L., Cappelle, D., Flamand, E. et al. Ethyl glucuronide in hair of non-excessive alcohol consumers: correlations and gender influence. Forensic Toxicol 34, 186–190 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-015-0291-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-015-0291-8

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