Urine ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulphate (EtS) concentrations the day after heavy alcohol consumption

Purpose: It has been suggested that ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulphate (EtS) are suitable biomarkers of the alcohol hangover state. Aim of the study was to investigate EtG and EtS concentrations in urine after an evening of heavy alcohol consumption. Drinkers who reported having a hangover were compared to hangover resistant drinkers (i.e. those claiming not to have a hangover). Methods: N = 36 healthy subjects (N = 18 hangover resistant, N = 18 having a hangover), 18- 35 years old, and regularly consuming >5 alcoholic drinks participated in this naturalistic study. Urine samples were collected on a control day (no alcohol consumed) and on a hangover day (about 9 h after stopping alcohol consumption). EtG and EtS concentrations between the hangover and control condition were compared, as well as between drinkers with a hangover and hangover resistant drinkers. Results: On average, participants consumed 11.6 ± 6.1 alcoholic drinks, and no significant difference was found between the hangover and hangover resistant drinkers (p = 0.61). Relative to the control day, significant increases in EtG and EtS concentrations were found in the hangover condition (p = 0.0001). No significant differences were observed between participants with a hangover and those who claimed not to have a hangover. Urine EtG and EtS concentrations did not correlate significantly with overall alcohol hangover severity, nor with the amount of alcohol consumed. Discussion: The data confirm that increased urine EtG and EtS concentrations are biomarkers of recent heavy alcohol consumption, irrespective of whether drinkers report to have a hangover or claim to be hangover resistant. However, EtG and EtS concentrations seem unrelated to the actual level of hangover severity.