[Hanktjy]

Does high water consumption resulting in increased urination result in more rapid elimination of ethyl glucuronide? I know that EtG is water soluble, but not sure if leaves the body faster with increased urination. Also on some posts on here I hear of people taking niacin, but not sure what effect that has on eliminating EtG if any at all.

[DrBill100]

It does. The work of Helen Dahl first noted this flaw in 2002 noting "...it was possible to lower the concentration of EtG by drinking large amounts of water prior to voiding" However, if the EtG is measured in ratio to creatinine it defeats the dilution. (see Dahl, 2002)

While chronic drinking will bring about niacin deficiency and such deficiency can slow metabolism of ethanol the result is indirect. It's doubtful niacin would accelerate elimination of EtG.

[Hanktjy]

Thanks for the answer, I've read the Dahl study. I was wanting to know if EtG is eliminated faster with increased urination, or if it stays in the body for a set amount of time regardless of how many times an individual may urinate. I realize people produce varying amounts of EtG, so after BAC=0 is the EtG eliminated at a certain rate or only become available to be eliminated through urine at a certain rate? Any info will be helpful.

[DrBill100]

EtG follows an elimination curve very similar to the primary analyte, ethanol. That is EtG elimination is probably rate limited. Most of the EtG, 90% +,is eliminated during the first 12 hours after peaking (1). Under all theories of elimination there is a ratio between the metabolite in blood and in urine, i.e. blood content is higher during absorption and then that ratio reverses during the elimination phase with urine content steadily increasing while blood content decreases. Not so with EtG(?) Urine EtG is always higher than blood (2)... Even at peak.

What that indicates is that there are many unknown factors involving EtG and elimination of same.

Since EtG synthesis stops at BAC=0 and it is eliminated exclusively via urine it follows that 1) it dissipates in urine with dilution and 2) each urination disposes of any remaining urinary EtG present at the time.

Why EtG can be detected in urine many many hours after it is no longer detectable is blood (controlling even for urination) is left unexplained. Nonetheless, liquid consumption creates the need to void which in turn disposes of residual EtG.

I'm afraid that is all that is known of EtG elimination. The below link leads to one of the better and more realistic studies that may clarify further.



1) Rosano & Lin (2008)
2) Hoiseth, 2009

[DrBill100]

Afraid you are misunderstanding urine dilution as relates to drug testing. Below a certain point measured by creatinine content in urine, the specimen is considered dilute rendering the reading unreliable. However, the specimen is tested anyway and returned as positive dilute or negative dilute.

With EtG a dilute sample can be normalized (UEtG100) to creatinine with a simple equation. So if EtG is present it can still be approximated.

Whether EtG will be present from the alcohol consumed is questionable at that time span but possible. Liquid of any type both dilutes and accelerates elimination. Over the years it has proven to be a very unreliable test and whether you pass even following heavy and prolonged drinking is pretty much a flip of the coin.