DETERMINATIONS OF ETHANOL, ACETALDEHYDE AND ACETATE IN BLOOD AND URINE DURING ALCOHOL OXIDATION IN MAN

Blood and urine samples were analyzed for ethanol, acetaldehydeand acetate during alcohol oxidation in Japanese men by headspace gas chromatography, following the consumption of 16 ml/kgof beer during a 20 min period. The maximum level of blood/urineethanol was found to be 15–17 mM (20–22 mM), whilethat of acetaldehyde in a flusher and in non-flushers was 20µM (52 µM) and 2–5 µM (10–13 µM),respectively. Acetate levels in these groups ranged from 0.2mM (0.1 mM) to 0.8 mM (1.0 mM). Blood ethanol levels were dosedependent, whereas acetaldehyde and acetate levels reflectedindividual metabolic rates. The relative concentrations of ethanoland acetaldehyde in blood and that of acetate in alcohol metabolismcould be summarized as follows: 7500 (15 mM): 1–3 (2–5µM); 250–400 (0.5–0.8 mM) for non-flushers;and 7500 (15 mM): 5–10 (10–20 µM): 250–400(0.5–0.8 mM) for a flusher.