Asians are known for getting red when they drink. Known as Asian blush, Asian glow, or hahaha you’re all flushed, there is no scientific name for this condition. However it does have a scientific basis.
There are two major enzymes in the metabolism of alcohol: alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). In many Asians (50% of Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans!), the gene for ALDH has a mutation of a single base that results in a one amino acid difference in the enzyme. With the mutant gene, activity towards the metabolism of acetaldehyde is less than 10% than with the non-mutant gene.
Because the gene is dominant, having just one copy of it is enough to experience its effects. That means that if one of your parents has it, you have at least a 50% chance of having it too.
What is actually happening when you get the Asian flush? It’s an allergy-like reaction that is caused by histamines. Alcohol contains histamines and also causes the release of histamines, while ALDH breaks down both alcohol and histamines. Common symptoms are nasal congestion and flushed skin. Others include heart palpitations, the sensation of heat, headache, and stomachaches, which can continue hours after the consumption of alcohol, as long as the acetaldehyde is in the bloodstream.
Although some who have the glow would rather do without it, scientists have studied the role of the gene in preventing high alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence. In one study, 575 out of 655 Japanese alcoholics lacked the mutant allele. Numerous similar studies have shown that those with the gene are protected against alcoholism. Antabuse, the leading medication for treating alcoholism, inhibits ALDH and causes nausea and flushing, as a deterrent against drinking. However, there isn’t really a cure for Asian blush.
Just be glad you’re not an alcoholic. Cheers!
Other posts you might be interested in:
Blog RSS Blog Comments RSS
Efren wrote:
Wow, my first post!
I actually was doing some research on this when I was in grad school, and many non-Asian folk, citing the relatively low rates of alcoholism among Asian Americans, would suggest that having the defective genes were deterrents.
Anecdotally though, I know plenty of people who have the defective gene, blush after their first drink–and drink anyway, myself included.
Posted on 04-Dec-07 at 1:57 pm | Permalink
Cracker and Cheese » Blog Archive » It's Not Because I am a Lightweight! wrote:
[...] In actuality, I’m allergic to alcohol. [...]
Posted on 04-Dec-07 at 2:11 pm | Permalink
Andrew wrote:
As a graduate student in molecular biology (and a korean), I can confirm this. However, it goes well beyond histamines. The main culprit is the presence of aldehydes. The first enzyme in this process is ADH, which converts an alcohol group (-OH) to an aldehyde (-COH). The second enzyme ALDH is the one which is deficient and results in the buildup of excess aldehydes in the bloodstream and vascular beds. Aldehydes are, at high levels, toxic. In lesser amounts they increase heart rate, red/flushed face, headaches, etc. These symptoms are also those found in people who are on the Atkins Diet, in which there is an abundance of ketones and aldehydes from meat. The medical term is “ketosis”, which disrupts the normal acid-base, carbonic acid buffering system in your blood. As a result, the ADH enzyme becomes saturated and ends up leaving more pure alcohol in your bloodstream as well.
To summarize, it can be a problem.
Also of note, asians have lesser numbers of apocrine sweat glands (the odor producing glands that are located in rather “specific” locations). Ever wonder why asians don’t have much body odor? Or why asians rarely “pit out”? It’s because of a deficiency in these glands. Of course, don’t shower for a few days and it gets horrible anyway.
Posted on 04-Dec-07 at 3:12 pm | Permalink
Lily wrote:
Hm, interesting. Notice that there isn’t much commentary on that, on how remarkably unstinky we are. Why do we only get a reputation for the embarrassing stuff?
Posted on 04-Dec-07 at 4:22 pm | Permalink
Lily wrote:
Also, thanks for the clarification/ further edification.
Posted on 04-Dec-07 at 4:47 pm | Permalink
Phil wrote:
>Alcohol contains histamines
False.
Posted on 04-Dec-07 at 6:22 pm | Permalink
Andrew wrote:
Oh sure thing. Why does it happen? No idea. Scientific reason: thousands of years of inbreeding usually eliminates rather than adds evolutionary features. Nationalistic reason: “cause asians are pure race!” hahaha.
More interesting info: Recently a fellow Korean in my lab went to a presentation. There we pleasantly found out that asians have the lowest frequency of cancer, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and heart disease. I’ll take that anyday over getting made fun of at the bar over alcohol….
Posted on 04-Dec-07 at 10:44 pm | Permalink
Bo wrote:
I thought rates of cancer, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease became comparable with US national averages once you reach into the second & third generation of Asians. I also heard that Asians and Asian-Americans have way higher rates of GI cancers - like stomach cancer.
Posted on 05-Dec-07 at 11:52 am | Permalink
Andrew wrote:
yeah. For asian-americans, I would think you could extrapolate the genetic features. However, the statistics were strictly over Japanese and Korean populations (those living there). I suppose for “metabolic disorder”, which is diabetes, obesity, etc., and other environmentally dependent diseases, one can’t say they’re lower. Once the diet changes, that has a big effect.
Example: Carbon is the backbone to all molecular life. about 70% of the carbon in American’s bodies comes from corn and corn syrup. In Asians (not asian-americans), it comes from rice, of course.
Posted on 05-Dec-07 at 12:10 pm | Permalink
Andrew wrote:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/09/22/kd.gupta.column/index.html
Posted on 05-Dec-07 at 12:11 pm | Permalink
Efren wrote:
Ok, and exactly how much did Ernie drink in that picture???
Posted on 06-Dec-07 at 11:41 am | Permalink
8Asians.com » Wilfred Wong, Cellarmaster at Beverages & More: An Asian American/Asian Canadian Blog wrote:
[...] Considering that all good wine tasting teachers tell you to trust your gut and not to totally rely on someone else’s point system, I first looked at his rankings as suspect, but after buying a few of his recommended wines, I can pretty much say Wilfred Wong’s rankings are pretty much spot on. And as Ernie said, “Good to hear that someone can drink wine without getting beet red.” [...]
Posted on 03-Mar-08 at 10:37 pm | Permalink