Alcohol Intolerance

Question 1

Ethanol

Answer 1

• ethyl alcohol or drinking alcohol
• C2H6O
• In nature, yeast ferments fruit sugars, creating CO2 and ethanol
• A toxin and central nervous system depressant

Question 2

History of human ethanol consumption

Answer 2

• Consuming fermented fruit for 100 000 years +
• 4 million years ago, a gene mutation allowed apes to digest fermented fruit wiithout severe ethanol intoxication
• Prevent from falling off trees and enable to eat important food source

Question 3

What are foods that people have fermented throughout the world?

Answer 3

Fruit, rice, corn, cassava, cacti, potatoes, etc.

Question 4

When were the first alcoholic beverages made?

Answer 4

1. 9000 years ago in China
2. 7000 years ago in Central Asia where nomads fermented horse mare’s milk

Question 5

How does the development of agriculture relate to alcohol production?

Answer 5

Some believe it was developed on the basis of the cultivation of grain for beer, not bread

Question 6

Where is alcohol consumption the greatest?

Answer 6

Europe, particularly Eastern

Question 7

How many deaths are alcohol related?

Answer 7

1 in 25 globally linked

Question 8

How does alcohol mortality affect men over women?

Answer 8

Men are 5x more likely to die from alcohol-related illness

Question 9

What has occurred in alcohol mortality and women?

Answer 9

It has increased as women consuming alcohol had increased

Question 10

What population has the highest proportion of deaths related to alcohol (accidents, illness, suicide, homicide)?

Answer 10

Europe; 1 in 10 deaths

Question 11

What are the key enzymes in alcohol metabolism?

Answer 11

Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH)

Question 12

What does Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) do?

Answer 12

Catalyzes the oxidation of ethanol into acetaldehyde

Question 13

What does Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH) d0?

Answer 13

Oxidizes acetaldehyde to non-toxic acetate (acetic acid)

Question 14

What are the three steps in the oxidation of alcohol?

Answer 14

1. Ethanol to Acetaldehyde
2. Acetaldehyde to Acetate
3. Acetate to Carbon Dioxide and Water

Question 15

How can the body genetically prevent alcohol addiction?

Answer 15

Heavy drinkers having less offspring, genetic polymorphisms in ADH/ALDH, variants of either enzyme

Question 16

What is asian flush?

Answer 16

ALDH variant that occurs primarily in Eastern Asia

Question 17

What is the asian flush gene?

Answer 17

ALDH2; reduction in the capacity of acetaldehyde clearance leading to accumulation of it in circulation

Question 18

How does the ALDH2 gene affect heterozygotes?

Answer 18

They have reduced ALDH2 enzyme activity (deficient)

Question 19

How does ALDH2 gene affect homozygotes?

Answer 19

Nearly 0% enzyme activity

Question 20

What are the symptoms of Asian Alcohol Flushing Syndrome?

Answer 20

Facial flushing, tachycardia, nausea, and unpleasant feelings

Question 21

How does the ALDH2 increase disease risk?

Answer 21

ALDH2 deficient population may be more susceptible to the carcinogenic effect of consuming alcohol; most evidence for esophageal, head and neck cancer

Question 22

Why do asians with ALDH2 still drink?

Answer 22

• heterozygotes can build tolerance
• In Korea, Japan, and China, it is important for men to socialize and drink heavily
• Economic growth and increasing social openness had increased consumption