Could the high level of cirrhosis in central and eastern Europe be due partly to the quality of alcohol consumed? An exploratory investigation.
BACKGROUND
The burden of alcohol-related diseases differs widely among countries. Since the 1980s, a band of countries in Central and Eastern Europe have experienced a steep rise in deaths from chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. A possible risk factor is the consumption of illegally produced home-made spirits in these countries containing varying amounts of aliphatic alcohols and which may be hepatotoxic. However, little is known about the composition of such beverages.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the concentration of short-chain aliphatic alcohols in spirits from illegal and legal sources in Hungary.


METHODS
Samples taken from commercial retailers and illegal sources were collected and their aliphatic patterns and alcohol concentrations were determined by gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis.


RESULTS
The concentrations of methanol, isobutanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol and isoamyl alcohol were significantly higher in home-made spirits than those of from commercial sources.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the consumption of home-made spirits is an additional risk factor for the development of alcohol-induced cirrhosis and may have contributed to high level of liver cirrhosis mortality in Central and Eastern Europe. Restrictions on supply and sale of alcohol from illicit sources are needed urgently to reduce significantly the mortality from chronic liver disease.
Szucs
Sándor
S
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Medical and Health Science Centre, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary.
Sárváry
Attila
A
McKee
Martin
M
Adány
Róza
R
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D012307:Risk Factors