JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

This project aims to identify and evaluate efficient, scalable tools to support individuals with risk-prone alcohol consumption, in response to updated national guidelines by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare.

Objective:

Given that nearly 30% of the Swedish population now falls under the at-risk category, the project seeks to explore innovative, accessible technologies that could be implemented in large-scale public health interventions.

Methods:

A pilot scale clinical study was conducted to assess the feasibility of using emerging technologies for this purpose. Eight healthy volunteers participated in controlled alcohol consumption while being monitored through two methods: an eye-scanning tool integrated into a standard mobile phone, and saliva sampling for the biomarkers serotonin and orexin.

Results:

Eye-scanning parameters began to shift in some participants already at approximately 0.4-0.5 permille (0.4-0.5 ‰) blood alcohol concentration, particularly in the form of impaired eye convergence. Also, at around 0.5 ‰, participants started to get practical issues to manage the eye-scanning app. Salivary biomarkers did not show any clear correlation with alcohol intake, presumably due to low number of participants. Beyond biological findings, the study also generated important procedural insights for designing a large-scale clinical study.

Conclusions:

Eye-scanning showed potential as a non-invasive and accessible method for detecting and monitoring moderate alcohol consumption effects, while serotonin and orexin biomarkers were not informative in this context. Based on these findings and procedural learnings, eye-scanning tools warrant further investigation in larger clinical studies aimed at developing scalable support for risk-prone alcohol consumption.