Study of a model of breath alcohol pharmacokinetics during the absorption phase after drinking

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K17416
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58040:Forensics medicine-related
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: Himemiya-Hakucho Ayako (白鳥彩子) 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 講師 (90593301)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 呼気中アルコール濃度 / 吸収相 / ALDH2遺伝子型 / 飲酒実験 / 洗口実験

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We analyzed data on breath alcohol concentrations (BrAC). In the alcohol consumption experiments, the residual alcohol in the oral cavity was high immediately after the breath samples are sampled, and the elevated circulating alcohol during absorption, which were excreted into the breath, increased as time passes. Therefore, the whole kinetics showed the BrAC decreased exponentially with time and turned to increase when 10 to 20 minutes had passed. In the mouthwash experiments, exponential decreases from the start of breath collections, and significant decreases were observed after about 10 to 20 minutes. The curves calculated by taking the difference in the values of BrAC obtained from both experiments were considered to fit the first-order absorption kinetic model used for the estimation of blood alcohol concentrations.
We plan to continue to collect data and to evaluate the pharmacokinetic model of BrAC that takes account of ALDH2 genotypes.

Free Research Field

法医学・アルコール医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで、アルコール関連の法的事案の鑑定の主な対象は血中動態の消失相であった。‘呼気中動態の吸収相’の動態モデルを検討した報告は認められず、アルコールの真の動態を明らかにしているとは言い難い。本研究の達成により、実務上解釈が困難とされてきた呼気吸収相を含めたアルコール呼気中動態の解明に近づくことができれば、より詳細な助言・鑑定が可能になると期待される。
また、呼気中動態の吸収相はアルコールの体内動態学において解明が遅れている一方、法医鑑定実務においてその必要性が高まっている。本研究は、飲酒が関わる法的事案の解決、あるいは減少に寄与する波及効果が生まれる可能性も期待される。