Beverage-specific effects of ethanol consumption on its biological markers.
BACKGROUND
Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) are well-known biological markers of excessive ethanol consumption.


METHODS
The beverage-specific effects of ethanol consumption on GGT level and MCV value were analyzed cross-sectionally and retrospectively among middle-aged Japanese men who underwent a retirement health checkup (n = 974).


RESULTS
Both the consumption of distilled alcohol and that of fermented alcohol positively correlated with the logarithm of GGT [standard regression coefficient (beta) 0.261 and 0.174, respectively]. The prevalence rate of elevated GGT levels > or = 70 IU/L) was higher among heavy drinkers of distilled alcohol than among heavy drinkers of fermented alcohol (38.8% vs. 27.6%, p = 0.013). The MCV value correlated with distilled alcohol consumption (beta: 0.212, p < 0.0001) but not with fermented alcohol consumption (beta: 0.043, not significant). The prevalence rate of an elevated MCV (> or = 97 fL) was higher among heavy drinkers of distilled alcohol than among heavy drinkers of fermented alcohol (35.3% vs. 16.8%, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that MCV is less sensitive for detecting heavy consumption of fermented alcohol than for detecting that of distilled alcohol in apparently healthy middle-aged men.
Department of Internal Medicine, Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. hsakuta@msa.biglobe.ne.jp
Hidenari
H
Sakutata
Takashi
T
Suzuki
Hiroko
H
Yasuda
Teizo
T
Ito
D000437:Alcoholism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D000431:Ethanol; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase