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PEth Cut-Off Thresholds for Hazardous Alcohol Consumption Based on a Drinking Study

Walther, Lisa LU ; Stenton, Joanna LU ; Hansson, Therese LU ; Blomgren, Anders LU ; Andersson, Anders and Isaksson, Anders LU (2026) In Drug Testing and Analysis 18(1). p.108-117
Abstract

This study aimed to explore how PEth and other commonly used alcohol biomarkers (CDT, AST, ALT, and GGT) respond to regular consumption of what has been generally considered to correspond to low to moderate amounts of alcohol over a 2-week period. A total of 21 voluntary participants (aged 31–69 years) took part in a 2-week drinking study. Group 1 (n = 11) consumed one glass of wine daily (16 g of alcohol), close to the present Swedish limit for hazardous alcohol consumption, while Group 2 (n = 10) consumed two glasses daily (32 g of alcohol). Alcohol biomarkers were measured at baseline and at three further occasions during the study. After 1 week of alcohol consumption, all participants had measurable concentrations (> 0.005... (More)

This study aimed to explore how PEth and other commonly used alcohol biomarkers (CDT, AST, ALT, and GGT) respond to regular consumption of what has been generally considered to correspond to low to moderate amounts of alcohol over a 2-week period. A total of 21 voluntary participants (aged 31–69 years) took part in a 2-week drinking study. Group 1 (n = 11) consumed one glass of wine daily (16 g of alcohol), close to the present Swedish limit for hazardous alcohol consumption, while Group 2 (n = 10) consumed two glasses daily (32 g of alcohol). Alcohol biomarkers were measured at baseline and at three further occasions during the study. After 1 week of alcohol consumption, all participants had measurable concentrations (> 0.005 μmol/L, ≈3.5 ng/mL) of both PEth-homologues (PEth 16:0/18:1 and PEth 16:0/18:2). After 1- and 2-week periods, significant differences in PEth levels were observed between Group 1 and Group 2. The correlation between the two PEth-homologues was strong and increased as the study progressed. In contrast, other biomarkers showed little to no change during the study period. Both PEth-homologues appear capable of identifying hazardous alcohol consumption. The current Swedish reporting threshold for PEth 16:0/18:1 (0.05 μmol/L, ≈35 ng/mL) demonstrates high specificity but low sensitivity in identifying hazardous alcohol consumption involving regular/daily intake. The sensitivity of the other biomarkers is insufficient for detecting alcohol consumption at this level.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
alcohol markers, drinking study, ethanol, PEth, phosphatidylethanol
in
Drug Testing and Analysis
volume
18
issue
1
pages
10 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:41253128
  • scopus:105022153879
ISSN
1942-7603
DOI
10.1002/dta.3970
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
65f0aa05-ec91-4e54-b98e-39d70f5145cb
date added to LUP
2026-02-09 15:09:24
date last changed
2026-02-10 14:19:03
@article{65f0aa05-ec91-4e54-b98e-39d70f5145cb,
  abstract     = {{<p>This study aimed to explore how PEth and other commonly used alcohol biomarkers (CDT, AST, ALT, and GGT) respond to regular consumption of what has been generally considered to correspond to low to moderate amounts of alcohol over a 2-week period. A total of 21 voluntary participants (aged 31–69 years) took part in a 2-week drinking study. Group 1 (n = 11) consumed one glass of wine daily (16 g of alcohol), close to the present Swedish limit for hazardous alcohol consumption, while Group 2 (n = 10) consumed two glasses daily (32 g of alcohol). Alcohol biomarkers were measured at baseline and at three further occasions during the study. After 1 week of alcohol consumption, all participants had measurable concentrations (&gt; 0.005 μmol/L, ≈3.5 ng/mL) of both PEth-homologues (PEth 16:0/18:1 and PEth 16:0/18:2). After 1- and 2-week periods, significant differences in PEth levels were observed between Group 1 and Group 2. The correlation between the two PEth-homologues was strong and increased as the study progressed. In contrast, other biomarkers showed little to no change during the study period. Both PEth-homologues appear capable of identifying hazardous alcohol consumption. The current Swedish reporting threshold for PEth 16:0/18:1 (0.05 μmol/L, ≈35 ng/mL) demonstrates high specificity but low sensitivity in identifying hazardous alcohol consumption involving regular/daily intake. The sensitivity of the other biomarkers is insufficient for detecting alcohol consumption at this level.</p>}},
  author       = {{Walther, Lisa and Stenton, Joanna and Hansson, Therese and Blomgren, Anders and Andersson, Anders and Isaksson, Anders}},
  issn         = {{1942-7603}},
  keywords     = {{alcohol markers; drinking study; ethanol; PEth; phosphatidylethanol}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{108--117}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Drug Testing and Analysis}},
  title        = {{PEth Cut-Off Thresholds for Hazardous Alcohol Consumption Based on a Drinking Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dta.3970}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/dta.3970}},
  volume       = {{18}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}