Alcoholic Tolerance, Drinking Behavior, and Alcoholrelated Health Disorders among the Japanese.

Abstract

In Japan there are many people who are intolerant to alcohol. Known as flushers, they do not genetically have low Km acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (AlDH2). Flushers are judged easily and accurately by the alcohol patch test. An ethanol patch test carried out on agricultural and fishing populations in Japan showed that approx. 40% were deficient in AlDH2. A questionnaire survey of the drinking behavior of many people showed significant differences between the normal AlDH2 and AlDH2-deficient groups. The normal group drinks positively and actively, while the deficient group drinks negatively and passively. As a result, there were significant differences in subjective and objective symptoms that result from drinking between the two groups: More frequent hangovers, abnormal physical conditions and higher KAST scores were seen in the normal group, and health examination showed higher values in liver function tests, including γ-GTP, and higher levels of blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), etc., in the normal AlDH2group.It may be very useful for prevention of alcohol-related health disorders to help Mongoloid peoples, such as the Japanese, recognize whether their AlDH2 is normal or deficient, which is as determined by the ethanol patch test.