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Disulfiram: Anti-Alcoholism Drug Acts Like the Asian Flush

By Efren | Monday, January 25, 2010 | 19 Comments

DrunkErnie NotEfren 600x450 Disulfiram: Anti Alcoholism Drug Acts Like the Asian Flush

So we’ve talked WAY too much about the Asian flush here on 8Asians, meaning the immediate flushing response one gets when certain Asians–ahem, Ernie–drinks alcohol, where the symptoms can often include nausea, vomiting, and other not-so-lovely side effects when one imbibes even a half-glass of wine.

According to an article featured in one of Time magazine’s blogs, however, it looks like the Asian flush is actually seen as an evolutionary response– an advantage, even. According to Biomed Central journal, BMC Evolutionary Biology, Chinese researchers did a genetic study on a certain gene responsible for making the enzyme that allows alcohol metabolism all across China, and discovered that in areas where rice was first domesticated, mainly southeastern China, there were more people who carried the mutation that caused the Asian flush. However, in areas where rice isn’t eaten as often, like in Tibet, the mutation is seen in much less numbers. The authors argue that the mutation prevents people from dying from alcohol overdoses and somehow “supports imbibing in moderation.” Anyone who’s seen Asian American college students with the flush drink themselves literally under the table knows that just because one gets the Asian flush doesn’t mean that they don’t drink as much as others.

In fact, a drug now used to keep alcoholics from drinking too much, disulfiram, apparently acts exactly like the Asian flush. People who take disulfiram and try to drink suffer the exact same symptoms: flushing of the face, nausea, vomiting, weakness, and the list goes on.  (I would make a comment about this being a drug for Asiaphiles that makes you more Asian, but I think that might not go over very well.)

(“Drunk Ernie, not Efren” photo was modified from this)

20100217 1nfj4uxmjkf3jpq4imf7fd7fpa Disulfiram: Anti Alcoholism Drug Acts Like the Asian Flush

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Efren Bose

Geez, we look nothing alike. :P Just because we're both gay fat Asian guys...

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moye

It works for me but only because I'm shallow.

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moye

Efren, did anyone tell you how much you look like Ernie?

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jozjozjoz

Merry Xmas, Efi!

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Philip

That's true Tim. Also some people have successfully been able to stop turning red after drinking more often.

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Efren Bose

This is why you're awesome, Joz.

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timat8asians

It's a good thing you guys haven't seen me drink or turn red for that matter ...

BTW, Efi is right, turning red certainly doesn't prevent people from drinking or from becoming an alcoholic for that matter.

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Big Red One

Aiyooooooo you got me on that one lol

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jozjozjoz

For someone who doesn't turn red, you have a very confusing nickname, "Big Red One." :P

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Big Red One

I'm Asian, and I don't turn red -.-" does that mean my ancestors don't eat rice?

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Efren Bose

Please do. Make it with large text and large arrows. "ERNIE, NOT Efren. This is ERNIE."

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Xxxtine

wouldn't that be redundant tho?

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jozjozjoz

For the sake of clarification, I COULD make a caption on the photo that says "Drunk Ernie"...

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Efren Bose

I am SO glad I can handle my alcohol--though everyone assumes that I'm the one in the photo! Geez.

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ErnieAtLYD

You guys kills me. That is all. ;)

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Philip

FYI: When I typed in "Asian Flush" in google images, your picture was the 4th one that came up! =)

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&um=1&...

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Philip

FYI:

On google images, your picture as appears as the 4th one =)

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&um=1&...

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jozjozjoz

I never tire of that photo.

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Trackbacks

  1. Anti-Alcoholism Drug Works Better on (East) Asian Americans | Food & Drink | 8Asians.com says:
    September 30, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    [...] there are many groups within Asian ethnic groups like the Chinese. In a previous post, I wrote how Cantonese were more likely to be subject to the “Asian flush,” so it makes even the supposedly specific term Chinese rather problematic. Also, since the article [...]

 
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