Studies of whole blood-associated acetaldehyde levels in teetotalers

We measured whole blood-associated acetaldehyde (WBAA) levels in 225 teetotalers (123 females, 102 males) between the ages of 18 and 86 years. Values were normally distributed, but mean values for females were significantly lower than for males (7.6 +/- 0.6 vs. 7.9 +/- 0.7 microM, p < 0.0001). There was a significant positive correlation with age for the entire group (r2 = 0.149, p = 0.001) and for both sexes. The correlation with WBAA and age was stronger for females. Significant but lesser positive correlations were found between WBAA and other variables that increase with age, including glucose, fructosamine, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and creatinine in the entire data set. Partial r analyses indicated that the correlations were mediated through the primary association of WBAA and age. We conclude that in individuals who do not consume ethanol there are significant sex differences in whole blood acetaldehyde and that the values increase throughout life.