Methods for determination of previous ethanol consumption

A method for assessment of previous ethanol exposure in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (i) obtaining a sample from the body of the subject;
• (ii) removing carboxylic acid residues of compounds of Formula II present in said sample to yield a compound of Formula IIc by selective transesterification
• (iii) quantitatively determining a level of said compound of Formula IIc;
• and
• (iv) using said level of said compound of Formula IIc to assess previous ethanol exposure in the subject;
• wherein
• the subject is a human or animal;
• R1 and R2 are independently selected from straight or branched C9-39 alkyl, C9-39 alkenyl, C9-39 alkdienyl and C9-39 alktrienyl;
• and
• R4 is a saturated or unsaturated straight carbon chain, or a carboxylic acid residue of a synthetically produced carboxylic acid.

A method for assessment of previous ethanol exposure in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (i) obtaining a sample from the body of the subject;
• (ii) quantitatively determining a level of one or several bio-precursors of PEth and a level of corresponding one or several PEth-homologues in said sample;
• (iii) obtaining a ratio between said level of one or several bio-precursors of PEth and said level of corresponding one or several PEth-homologues;
• and
• (iv) using said ratio between said level of one or several bio-precursors of PEth and said level of the corresponding one or several PEth-homologues to assess previous ethanol exposure in the subject;
• wherein
• the subject is a human or animal.

A method for assessment of previous ethanol exposure in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (i) obtaining a sample from the body of the subject;
• (ii) quantitatively determining a level of one or several bio-precursors of ethyl-sphingomyelin and a level of corresponding one or several ethyl-sphingomyelin homologues in said sample;
• (iii) obtaining a ratio between said level of one or several bio-precursors of ethyl-sphingomyelin and said level of the corresponding one or several ethyl-sphingomyelin homologues;
• and
• (iv) using said ratio between said level of one or several bio-precursors of ethyl-sphingomyelin and said level of the corresponding one or several ethyl-sphingomyelin homologues to assess previous ethanol exposure in the subject;
• wherein
• the subject is a human or animal.

A method for assessment of previous ethanol exposure in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (i) obtaining a blood sample of the subject;
• (ii) quantitatively determining a level of one or several PEth-homologues, or a level of one or several ethyl-sphingomyelin homologues, in said blood sample, and determining a level of a measurable parameter representing an amount of cellular material in said blood sample;
• (iii) obtaining a ratio between said level of one or several PEth-homologues or said level of one or several ethyl-sphingomyelin homologues, and said level of said measurable parameter;
• and
• (iv) using said ratio between said level of one or several PEth-homologues or one or several ethyl-sphingomyelin homologues, and said level of said measurable parameter to assess previous ethanol exposure in the subject;
• wherein
• the subject is a human being or animal;
• and
• said measurable parameter is haemoglobin or the erythrocyte volume fraction.

A method for assessment of the history of previous ethanol exposure in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (i) obtaining a sample from the body of the subject;
• (ii) quantitatively determining a level of one or several bio-precursors of PEth, or a level of one or several bio-precursors of ethyl-sphingomyelin, and a level of corresponding one or several first bio-markers of ethanol being PEth or a level of one or several ethyl-sphingomyelin homologues, respectively, and quantitatively determining a level of a second bio-marker of ethanol;
• (iii) comparing said level of one or several bio-precursors of PEth or said level of one or several bio-precursors of ethyl-sphingomyelin, said level of the corresponding one or several first bio-markers of ethanol, and said level of said second bio-marker of ethanol to determine the history of previous absolute ethanol consumption in the subject;
• wherein
• the subject is a human or animal.