Fatty acid ethyl esters: nonoxidative metabolites of ethanol

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