Biomarkers of the alcohol hangover state: Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS)

• Published in: Human psychopharmacology Vol. 32; no. 5
• Main Authors: Mackus, Marlou, Loo, Aurora J. A. E., Raasveld, S. Jorinde, Hogewoning, Anna, Sastre Toraño, Javier, Flesch, Frits M., Korte‐Bouws, Gerdien A. H., Neer, Renier H. P., Wang, Xiaochun, Nguyen, Thomas T., Brookhuis, Karel A., Kraneveld, Aletta D., Garssen, Johan, Verster, Joris C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2017; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - blood; Alcohol Drinking - urine; Alcohol-Related Disorders - blood; Alcohol-Related Disorders - urine; Alcoholic beverages; biomarker; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - urine; Blood; Blood Alcohol Content; Breath tests; EtG; Ethanol; EtS; Female; Glucuronates - urine; hangover; Headache; Humans; Male; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - blood; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - urine; Sulfates; Sulfuric Acid Esters - urine; Urine; Young Adult; alcohol; EtG; biomarker; EtS; ethanol; hangover
• ISSN: 0885-6222; 1099-1077
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.2624

Introduction The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) as biomarkers of the hangover state. Methods Thirty‐sixhealthy social drinkers participated in this study, being of naturalistic design. Eighteen participants experience regular hangovers (the hangover group), whereas the other 18 claim to not experience a hangover (the hangover‐immune group). On a control day (alcohol‐free) day and a post‐alcohol day, urine EtG and EtS concentrations were determined and hangover severity assessed. Results Urinary EtG and EtS concentrations were significantly increased on post‐alcohol day compared to the control day (p = .0001). Both EtG and EtS concentrations did not significantly correlate with the overall hangover score, nor with the estimated peak blood alcohol concentrations and number of alcoholic drinks. EtG correlated significantly only with the individual hangover symptom “headache” (p = .033; r = .403). No significant correlations were found with the EtG to EtS ratio. EtG and EtS concentrations significantly correlated with urine ethanol concentrations. Conclusions Although urine EtG and EtS concentration did not significantly correlate to estimated peak blood alcohol concentrations or the number of alcoholic drinks consumed, a significant correlation was found with urine ethanol concentration. However, urine EtG and EtS concentrations did not significantly correlate with overall hangover severity.