Phosphatidylethanol Biomarker Reveals Underlying Causes of Liver Disease

Strategic Insights -

Recent research conducted at the Odense University Hospital in Denmark has shed light on the clinical utility of phosphatidylethanol (PEth) as a biomarker for liver disease. The study highlights the potential of PEth to subclassify patients with steatotic liver disease, a condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the liver. According to the research, PEth is a direct biomarker of alcohol consumption within the past 1-4 weeks, making it a valuable tool in identifying individuals at risk of liver disease.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study aimed to investigate the correlation between PEth and self-reported alcohol intake among individuals at risk of steatotic liver disease due to excessive alcohol consumption or metabolic dysfunction.
  • The research analyzed data from a single-centre, prospective study conducted at Odense University Hospital, involving 30-75 year-old participants from the general population with a history of ongoing or previous excessive alcohol use or metabolic dysfunction without excessive alcohol use.
  • The study found that incorporating PEth into diagnostic steatotic liver disease algorithms could aid in patient subclassification.
  • The results suggest that PEth can differentiate between individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and those without, based on their past 3-month alcohol intake and cardiometabolic risk factors.
  • The study's findings have significant implications for the diagnosis and management of liver disease, highlighting the need for a non-invasive marker like PEth to subclassify patients and tailor treatment approaches.
  • The research involved a prospective cohort study design, which allowed the researchers to analyze data from a large and diverse group of participants.
  • The study's results were published in the Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology journal, a leading international publication in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology.

Statistics:

  • 30-75 year-old participants from the general population were involved in the study.
  • Participants with a history of ongoing or previous excessive alcohol use or metabolic dysfunction without excessive alcohol use were analyzed.
  • The study used a prospective cohort study design, which included data from 1,200 participants.
  • The researchers used the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification-Consumption (AUDIT-C) questionnaire to assess participants' self-reported alcohol intake.
  • The study found a significant correlation between PEth levels and self-reported alcohol intake.

Sources:

  • Phosphatidylethanol and self-reported alcohol intake to subclassify individuals at risk of steatotic liver disease: an analysis of data from a prospective cohort study. Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2025;10(11):975-985.
  • NewsRx. Recent Studies from Odense University Hospital Add New Data to Liver Diseases and Conditions (Phosphatidylethanol and self-reported alcohol intake to subclassify individuals at risk of steatotic liver disease: an analysis of data from a ...). Health & Medicine Week. October 31, 2025; p 4622.