Correlation between Postmortem Ethanol Production and Low Molecular Weight Volatiles (LMWVs) in a Thai Population
Issued Date
2023-01-01
Resource Type
eISSN
22288082
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85163213443
Journal Title
Siriraj Medical Journal
Volume
75
Issue
4
Start Page
299
End Page
305
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Siriraj Medical Journal Vol.75 No.4 (2023) , 299-305
Suggested Citation
Hengcharoen S., Kaeomun D., Phuangphung P. Correlation between Postmortem Ethanol Production and Low Molecular Weight Volatiles (LMWVs) in a Thai Population. Siriraj Medical Journal Vol.75 No.4 (2023) , 299-305. 305. doi:10.33192/smj.v75i4.260477 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/87823
Title
Correlation between Postmortem Ethanol Production and Low Molecular Weight Volatiles (LMWVs) in a Thai Population
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Objective: To determine the relationship between postmortem ethanol production and low molecular weight volatiles (LMWVs) in a Thai population. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 157 Thai cadavers. Various subject data were recorded, including degree of postmortem changes (transition period group vs. decomposition group classified by the total body score [TBS]) and blood profiles of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and 1-propanol concentrations from femoral blood samples. Blood ethanol concentrations were diagnosed as postmortem production by vitreous humor analysis. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine the correlations between these three analytes and the TBS and between postmortem ethanol and the other two analytes. Results: This study comprised 44 females and 113 males with a mean age at death of 47.79 years old. Postmortem ethanol, acetaldehyde, and 1-propanol concentrations escalated along with the increased TBS (p<0.001). These three analytes were significantly correlated with the TBS (p<0.001) and the correlations of determination (R2) for postmortem ethanol and 1-propanol were better than for acetaldehyde (R2 = 0.488 and 0.414 vs. 0.269). Acetaldehyde and 1-propanol were positively correlated with postmortem ethanol (p<0.001). The correlations between postmortem ethanol and acetaldehyde, 1-propanol, and the combination of these two analytes produced R2 values of 0.413, 0.480, and 0.544, respectively. Conclusion: Acetaldehyde and 1-propanol concentrations were significantly correlated with postmortem ethanol concentrations in Thai cadavers, and the combination of these two markers produced a better correlation with the postmortem ethanol concentration.