Prevalence of ethanol consumption may be higher in women than men in a university health service population as determined by a biochemical marker: whole blood-associated acetaldehyde above the 99th percentile for teetotalers

To estimate ethanol consumption by university students attending a student health facility, a biochemical marker of alcohol intake [whole blood associated acetaldehyde (WBAA)] was quantified by fluorimetric HPLC. Over a two year period we studied blood samples, coded by date and sex, from 645 females and 332 males, and compared the results to previously established reference ranges for teetotalers by sex. Men had higher absolute values for WBAA than women (9.9 versus 9.5 microM in the present study). However, significantly greater numbers of women (74%) than men (44%) had WBAA levels above the 99th percentile for teetotalers. Variations occurred during the academic year, with significant elevations occurring in the late fall and winter months. Testing of WBAA levels in a student health service may be important especially for women to facilitate counseling on the dangers of alcohol abuse.