FATTY-ACID ETHYL-ESTERS - NONOXIDATIVE METABOLITES OF ETHANOL

The story of fatty acid ethyl (FAEE) encompasses nearly 40 years of re search. For more than half of this time, the investigation was limited to documenting the presence of ethyl ester synthesis in different cel ls and tissues. In the last three years, increasing evidence has emerg ed that FAEE contribute to ethanol-induced organ damage, with a variet y of different mechanisms proposed for mediation of this toxic effect. In addition, multiple enzymatic activities associated with FAEE forma tion have been described. Independent of their role in mediating cell injury, it has very recently been shown that FAEE are useful short-ter m and long-term serum markers of ethanol intake, given their appearanc e in the blood rapidly after ethanol ingestion and their presence when ethanol is no longer detectable.