Fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium: A biomarker of fetal alcohol exposure and effect

To determine if meconium fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) in rat pups is a good biomarker of prenatal exposure and effect to alcohol, three groups of pregnant rats were studied: one control (pair fed) and two treatment groups given 25% alcohol at 2.2 or 5.5 g−1 kg−1 d−1. The pups were delivered on day 20 and, for each dam, were separated into a male and female group. The body, brain, intestines, and placenta of the pups were obtained, weighed, and stored at −20°C. The pups’ intestines (as surrogate of meconium) from each group were pooled, and meconium was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy for FAEE. The meconium showed the following FAEE: ethyl palmitate, ethyl stearate, and ethyl linolenate and were only found in the alcohol-treated group and with high specificity but low sensitivity. Mean body weight of the pups was lower in the treatment groups compared to the control groups. Ethyl palmitate concentration correlated negatively to the pups’ mean body and brain weights. Therefore, ethyl palmitate, stearate, and linolenate, in meconium of rat pups prenatally exposed to alcohol, are useful biomarkers of prenatal alcohol exposure, with ethyl palmitate a good biomarker of adverse effect on the pups’ body and brain weight.

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Prevalence of Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters in Meconium Specimens

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1373/49.1.133 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 133-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 82

Author(s):

Christine Moore ◽

Joseph Jones ◽

Douglas Lewis ◽

Karen Buchi

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Alcohol Exposure ◽

The Body ◽

Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters ◽

Ethyl Esters ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Fetal Alcohol ◽

Central Nervous System Dysfunction ◽

The Mean

Abstract Background: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), alcohol-related birth defects (ARBDs), and alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorders (ARNDs) in neonates are often the result of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Facial characteristics are associated with FAS, but ARBDs and ARNDs are more difficult to diagnose. Fetal exposure to alcohol can cause central nervous system dysfunction, pre- and postnatal growth problems, cardiac defects in neonates, and attention deficit disorders and mental retardation in older children. To date, diagnosis of fetal alcohol effect has depended largely on maternal interview, although clinical tests are becoming more widely used. Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) are formed in the body by esterification of ethanol with free fatty acids and trans-esterification of glycerides and have been detected in the meconium of newborns. This report estimates the prevalence of fetal alcohol exposure in two populations by detecting FAEEs in meconium. Methods: We analyzed the prevalence of FAEEs in the meconium of two separate groups of neonates by use of solid-phase extraction and analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in the chemical ionization mode. In the first study, meconium samples were taken anonymously from babies born in a large, regional perinatal center in Hawaii. In the second study, specimens were obtained from infants admitted to six different newborn intensive care units within the state of Utah. Results: In the first study, 73 of 436 (16.7%) meconium specimens tested were considered positive for FAEEs. When broken down into quartiles, the mean total FAEEs measured were 1059, 3133, 6628, and 62115 ng/g. In the second study, 35 of 289 (12.1%) specimens were considered positive. When broken into quartiles, the mean total FAEEs were 1139, 3067, 7674, and 50 143 ng/g. The overall FAEE profiles of the two study sets were remarkably similar. Conclusion: In an adequate meconium specimen, a total FAEE concentration >10 000 ng/g may indicate that the newborn has been exposed to significant amounts of alcohol during pregnancy.

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Prevalence of heavy fetal alcohol exposure by analysis of meconium fatty acid ethyl esters; A nat ionwide canadian study

Reproductive Toxicology ◽

10.1016/j.reprotox.2018.07.032 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 80 ◽

pp. 142

Author(s):

Kaithlyn Delano ◽

Gideon Koren ◽

Martin Zack ◽

Bhushan Kapur ◽

Joey Gareri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Alcohol Exposure ◽

Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters ◽

Ethyl Esters ◽

Fetal Alcohol Exposure ◽

Canadian Study ◽

Fetal Alcohol

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Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Exposure by Analysis of Meconium Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters; A National Canadian Study

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-38856-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kaitlyn Delano ◽

Gideon Koren ◽

Martin Zack ◽

Bhushan M. Kapur

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Alcohol Exposure ◽

Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters ◽

Ethyl Esters ◽

Fetal Alcohol Exposure ◽

Canadian Study ◽

Fetal Alcohol

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Ongoing regional prevalence study of fetal alcohol exposure as determined by Meconium analysis of fatty acid ethyl esters

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics ◽

10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.250 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. P93-P93

Author(s):

J GARERI ◽

G KOREN

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Alcohol Exposure ◽

Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters ◽

Ethyl Esters ◽

Prevalence Study ◽

Fetal Alcohol Exposure ◽

Fetal Alcohol

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The Effect of Prolonged Storage Time on the Stability of Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters in Hair Samples

Journal of Analytical Toxicology ◽

10.1093/jat/bkaa026 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (8) ◽

pp. 829-833 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lolita Tsanaclis ◽

Kim Bagley ◽

Sian Bevan ◽

John Wicks

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters ◽

Ethyl Esters ◽

Full Blood Count ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Data Set ◽

Ethyl Palmitate ◽

Study Results ◽

Hair Samples

Abstract The advantages of analysis of drugs in hair samples are recognized for the long window of detection, alongside easy sampling and long stability after sample collection. Alcohol markers, ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and total fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in hair, are widely used for monitoring alcohol consumption for clinical and forensic purposes. Although stability of drugs and EtG in hair samples is documented to a certain extent, stability of FAEEs in hair samples after collection has not been reported. This study covered hair samples that had been tested for FAEEs on the day of arrival at the laboratory and retested between 4 and 80 months later. The statistical analysis of the data set reveals significant lower FAEEs levels including ethyl palmitate (EtPa) ester levels when samples were retested for the second time after 6 days of storage under ideal conditions. Specifically, the results suggest that when measuring total FAEEs or solely EtPa in hair samples, the elapsed time between sample collection and analysis of the sample needs to be considered when interpreting the results. The recommendation is that whenever hair samples need to be tested for total FAEEs or EtPa, the analytical procedure needs to be performed within 1 week after collection in order to obtain meaningful results. The study results substantiate the case for the use of hair samples solely for the analysis of EtG, in conjunction with other measurements such as full blood count, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin test, liver function test or phosphatidylethanol alongside clinical assessment for a more effective evaluation of alcohol consumption.

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