Salsolinol in the urine of nonalcoholic individuals after long-term moderate drinking

Urine samples were collected before breakfast from 94 normal volunteers (41 males and 53 females) aged 25-70 years. Salsolinol (SA) was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). SA levels were significantly higher in the urine of male moderate drinkers (MDs) than in male seldom or non drinkers (SNDs). In females, however, a significant difference of urinary SA levels was not observed between MDs and SNDs. There was a sex difference of urinary SA levels among SND subjects, i.e., females showed a higher SA than males. Urinary catecholamines were not significantly altered by long-term moderate alcohol drinking in either sex. There was no correlation between urinary levels of dopamine and SA. These results indicate that urinary SA can be increased by long-term drinking even in normal, not alcoholic subjects.