title: Oxidative and Non-Oxidative Metabolomics of Ethanol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is well known that ethanol can cause significant morbidity and mortality, and much of the related toxic effects can be explained by its metabolic profile.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work performs a complete review of the metabolism of ethanol focusing on both major and minor metabolites.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exhaustive literature search was carried out using textual and structural queries for ethanol and related known metabolizing enzymes and metabolites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main pathway of metabolism is catalyzed by cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase, which exhibits multiple isoenzymes and genetic polymorphisms with clinical and forensic implications. Another two oxidative routes, the highly inducible CYP2E1 system and peroxisomal catalase may acquire relevance under specific circumstances. In addition to oxidative metabolism, ethanol also originates minor metabolites such as ethyl glucuronide, ethyl sulfate, ethyl phosphate, ethyl nitrite, phosphatidylethanol and fatty acid ethyl esters. These metabolites represent alternative biomarkers since they can be detected several hours or days after ethanol exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is expected that knowing the metabolomics of ethanol may provide additional insights to better understand the toxicological effects and the variability of dose response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal. ricardinis@sapo.pt.
authors.forename: Ricardo Jorge
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dinis-Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D042931:Aldehyde Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D020404:Glycerophospholipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D055432:Metabolomics; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005965:Glucuronates; D020404:Glycerophospholipids; D007527:Isoenzymes; D009573:Nitrites; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; C051521:phosphatidylethanol; C093924:ethyl glucuronide; D000431:Ethanol; C032712:ethyl nitrite; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase; D002374:Catalase; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; D042931:Aldehyde Oxidase; D000079:Acetaldehyde; C011612:diethyl sulfate