(Seminar Psychiatry) Biological markers of alcohol use: Dr. Adarsh Kasana

Biological markers of alcohol use play a crucial role in understanding how much alcohol someone consumes and whether they might be misusing it. Let’s break down some of the key markers and what they tell us: Direct Biomarkers: These are substances like ethanol metabolites, such as EtG, that can indicate recent alcohol intake. They’re particularly helpful for assessing short-term drinking habits. Indirect Biomarkers: These markers include enzymes or cells that change when someone drinks heavily over time. Examples are liver enzymes like AST and ALT, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT). Emerging Biomarkers: There are also new experimental markers on the horizon, such as acetaldehyde, ethyl glucuronide (EtG), fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), and sialic acid. These have the potential to provide insights into recent drinking episodes and the risk of relapse. These biomarkers are incredibly useful for healthcare professionals, helping them assess patients' drinking patterns and identify those who might be at risk for alcohol-related issues. (Seminar Psychiatry) Biological markers of alcohol use: Dr. Adarsh Kasana #BiologicalMarkers #alcoholuse #substanceabuseprevention #AddictionResearch #healthscience #biomarkers #alcoholconsumption #publichealth #clinicalresearch #healthawareness #alcoholismtreatment #neuroscience #behavioralhealth #preventivemedicine #healtheducation #researchstudy #mentalhealth #sustainablehealth #evidencebased #healthpolicy