Total body water and peak alcohol concentration: a comparative study of young, middle-age, and older females

A search of the alcohol research literature reveals that very little experimental work has been done to describe the effects of alcohol in older females. In the present study, the effects of age and body water volume on the resultant peak alcohol concentration were observed for females ranging in age from 21 to 81. The peak alcohol concentration was estimated by breath testing in three groups of female volunteer subjects: young (21 to 25 years old), middle-age (35 to 47 years old), and older (>60 years old) after ingestion of 30 g of alcohol. Bioelectrical impedance analysis and anthropometric equations were used to estimate total body water, percent body water, and percent body fat for each subject. Significantly higher blood alcohol concentrations were obtained in older females [mean blood alcohol concentration (+/-SD) = 0.0975+/-0.018], compared with younger females (0.0818+/-0.016 and 0.0811+/-0.012). The results suggest, however, that this effect cannot be fully explained by the notion that older persons have a smaller body water volume. Particular attention is paid to the difference between total body water in liters and body water expressed as a percentage of body weight. Evidence is offered to demonstrate that percent body fat is not a determinant of the blood alcohol level an individual will attain. The findings are discussed with particular reference to the lack of experimental work involving older females and alcohol.