Comparison between the urinary alcohol markers EtG, EtS, and GTOL/5-HIAA in a controlled drinking experiment.
OBJECTIVE
Urinary ethyl glucuronide (EtG), ethyl sulfate (EtS), and the ratio between 5-hydroxytryptophol-glucuronide and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (GTOL/5-HIAA) are all suggested as biomarkers for recent alcohol ingestion with longer detection times than measurement of ethanol itself. The aim of this controlled study was to compare the sensitivities and detection times of EtG, EtS, and GTOL/5-HIAA, after a single ingestion of ethanol.


METHODS
0.5 g ethanol/kg body weight was ingested by 10 healthy male volunteers in a fasted state. Ethanol, EtG, EtS, and GTOL/HIAA levels were measured in urine samples collected during a 45-50 h period. The total amount of ethanol excreted as EtG and EtS was also determined.


RESULTS
Urinary EtG, EtS, and GTOL/5-HIAA showed 100% sensitivity as biomarkers for recent drinking. Compared to ethanol testing in urine, the detection times for GTOL/5-HIAA were approximately 5 h longer and for EtG and EtS approximately 25 h longer. The maximum EtG concentrations were higher than for EtS in all subjects, and a higher fraction of the ethanol dose was excreted as EtG (median 0.019%) compared with EtS (median 0.011%).


CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first controlled experiment comparing the time-courses for ethanol, EtG, EtS, and GTOL/5-HIAA in urine. In cases where surveillance of alcohol relapse is needed, measurements of urinary EtG and EtS are sensitive and specific alternatives to ethanol testing. The GTOL/5-HIAA ratio is equally sensitive but with a much shorter window of detection.
Høiseth
Gudrun
G
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Forensic Toxicology and Drug Abuse, Pb 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway. Gudrun.Hoiseth@fhi.no
Bernard
Jean Paul
JP
Stephanson
Nicolai
N
Normann
Per T
PT
Christophersen
Asbjørg S
AS
Mørland
Jørg
J
Helander
Anders
A
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000652:urine*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000652:urine*; D020719:Glucuronides / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine*; D006917:Hydroxytryptophol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters / Q000652:urine*
C500750:5-hydroxytryptophol glucuronide; D015415:Biomarkers; D005965:Glucuronates; D020719:Glucuronides; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; D006917:Hydroxytryptophol; C093924:ethyl glucuronide; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; C011612:diethyl sulfate