Have you ever wondered why your closest oriental friends often get a notable red face whist drinking alcohol? Being of Asian descent myself, I too suffer from this condition which is commonly coined “Asian red face”, or on a more clinical tone, Alcohol Flush Reaction.
The reason why this occurs particularly to Asians is due to a genetic mutation of which approximately 50% of all Asians have. Normally, consumed alcohol is broken down (metabolised) into acetalaldehyde. Acetalaldehyde is then metabolised into harmless acetic acid by the enzyme dehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2). Many Asians lack the dehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) enzyme which prevents acetalaldehyde from metabolising and increases its concentration in the blood.
Dr Geoff Chambers of Victoria University states that the build-up of acetalaldehyde causes unpleasant symptoms such as increased blood flow to the face and neck, headaches, nausea and extreme drowsiness. Acetalaldehyde is also responsible for the infamous “hang-over” after a big night out.
However, “Asian red face” is not all bad. Dr. Ting-Kai Li, a professor of medicine and biochemistry at the Indiana University School of Medicine believes that the mutant gene responsible for Asian flush may protect against heavy drinking and alcoholism.
Similarly, researchers interested in genealogy have successfully used this particular genetic marker to identify the oriental origins of the Polynesian people, who also lack the alcohol metabolising enzyme.
POSTED BY: ALEXANDER LOOK (42034434)
Tutor: PW
References:
* http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed/alcohol/metabolism.htm
* http://www.blogsoop.com/blog/is-asian-flush-evolutionarily-adaptive/
* http://twelvestepfacilitation.com/asian-alcoholism-genetics/
* http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0206/S00038.htm
