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cliche · 11-20-2003, 10:29 AM

I have the same problem (I'm not asian BTW) - it's been getting worse over the last few years; only used to appear with spirits but recently I went red after only 1 1/2 pints of cider! Horrible, blotchy rash all over my face and arms (torso and legs if I carry on drinking). Oddly, my sister and mother have the same problem.
The asian thing (I'm not sure it's the same as you're supposed to feel horrible due to build up of aldehydes) is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme "acetaldehyde dehydrogenase". It isn't the enzyme that breaks down alcohol (so they shouldn't get drunk any more easily), it breaks down the chemical that is produced from alcohol by the body. This is an "aldehyde"; levels build up and cause the flushing/headache/generally feeling crap that these people suffer from. It's nothing particularly to do with being asian; it's just that genetics dictate the mutation is more common in the asian community.

11-20-2003, 10:29 AM	#21 (permalink)
cliche Rookie Location: Oxford, UK	I have the same problem (I'm not asian BTW) - it's been getting worse over the last few years; only used to appear with spirits but recently I went red after only 1 1/2 pints of cider! Horrible, blotchy rash all over my face and arms (torso and legs if I carry on drinking). Oddly, my sister and mother have the same problem. The asian thing (I'm not sure it's the same as you're supposed to feel horrible due to build up of aldehydes) is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme "acetaldehyde dehydrogenase". It isn't the enzyme that breaks down alcohol (so they shouldn't get drunk any more easily), it breaks down the chemical that is produced from alcohol by the body. This is an "aldehyde"; levels build up and cause the flushing/headache/generally feeling crap that these people suffer from. It's nothing particularly to do with being asian; it's just that genetics dictate the mutation is more common in the asian community. __________________ I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones. -- John Cage (1912 - 1992)