Impact of Sex, Age, Body Composition and Kidney Function on the Relationship Between Self‐Reported Alcohol Consumption and Phosphatidylethanol—Data From the HUNT Study

Background Phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1 (PEth) is a widely used alcohol marker, but how sex, body size and composition and kidney function affect the dose–response relationship between alcohol consumption and PEth is not fully understood. Objective The aim of the study was to investigate whether sex, age, body size and composition and kidney function influence the estimate of alcohol consumed at a given PEth concentration. Methods This is a longitudinal population‐based cohort study including 24 902 participants from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4). Associations were assessed using a regression model. Findings When analysed together, sex and soft lean mass were statistically significant independent predictors of alcohol consumption at a given PEth concentration. To achieve the same PEth concentration as a female, a male with identical body composition could on average consume 21% more alcohol, according to our model. Independent of sex, a person with 10% higher soft lean mass could consume 3.9% more alcohol to achieve the same PEth concentration. When soft lean mass was excluded, height and body weight became significant predictors. Conclusions Sex, body composition and body size may have an impact on the dose–response relationship between alcohol consumption and PEth concentration. Thus, these factors will contribute to the uncertainty when estimating ethanol intake from a given PEth concentration.