Alcohol flush reaction

[Ylla]

Also called Asian flush reaction.

According to my 23andme I don’t carry the gene for that but whenever I drink alcohol i go red in the face.
My Asian friend insists I have Asian in me.

Do you experience it and what do you get anything on 23andme?

[nittionia]

I don't have the health reports on 23andme but I don't think I get flushed

[Cybele]

Do you experience it and what do you get anything on 23andme?
Yes I do. Now, if this has something to do with some Asian invaders from centuries ago, I don't know.
In the traits report from 23andme is not mentioned anything about alcohol flush reaction though. And I don't have access to other health reports from this company.

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

What is ADH1B and ALDH2?

Two key enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) are required to convert from alcohol to acetaldehyde and, eventually to acetic acid. Genetic polymorphisms may increase the risk of alcohol addiction. Acetaldehyde is responsible for the facial flushing and other unpleasant effects that ALDH2-deficient individuals experience when they drink alcohol.

https://i.imgur.com/RUW3iUp.png

https://i.imgur.com/eThRHrs.png

I do not have the health reports, so I don't know if this is a valid way around it and if these are the right marker alleles but I don't experience any flush.

[PaulieVanZant]

No need for any Asian genetics there. Women just tend to have less of the ALDH2 enzyme, needed to break down alcohol in general and coupled with usually higher bf to muscle ratio than men it can easily lead to a build up and thus to a flushed face. Hormones also come into play there. I reckon you`re more on the Estrogen heavy side, even for woman standards so this contributes too, since Estrogen lowers alcohol tolerance.

[chinshen]

I don't experience any of the alcohol flush symptoms. My attached 23andme health report shows that too.
119193
119194

[frankhammer]

What is ADH1B and ALDH2?

Two key enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) are required to convert from alcohol to acetaldehyde and, eventually to acetic acid. Genetic polymorphisms may increase the risk of alcohol addiction. Acetaldehyde is responsible for the facial flushing and other unpleasant effects that ALDH2-deficient individuals experience when they drink alcohol.

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I do not have the health reports, so I don't know if this is a valid way around it and if these are the right marker alleles but I don't experience any flush.

I get the same results and also do not experience any flush.

[Cybele]

What is ADH1B and ALDH2?

Two key enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) are required to convert from alcohol to acetaldehyde and, eventually to acetic acid. Genetic polymorphisms may increase the risk of alcohol addiction. Acetaldehyde is responsible for the facial flushing and other unpleasant effects that ALDH2-deficient individuals experience when they drink alcohol.

https://i.imgur.com/RUW3iUp.png

https://i.imgur.com/eThRHrs.png

I do not have the health reports, so I don't know if this is a valid way around it and if these are the right marker alleles but I don't experience any flush.

Interesting. In my case, it shows these two are not determined or genotyped.
https://i.imgur.com/ZlSvlQG.png
https://i.imgur.com/FzQqvKz.png

[Luke35]

My friend, of Chinese descent, always referred the change in color of his forehead (to maroon) as his Asian Stripe. I don't have that.

And according to 23andMe: Mr.G, based on your genetics, you are unlikely to flush after drinking alcohol.

[frankhammer]

Interesting. In my case, it shows these two are not determined or genotyped.
png
png

It will be the chip or version used at the time of your test, I believe.

[Vasag]

I have Armenian flush reaction. I throw money in air at party to show off when I drink too much but I don't turn red.

[PaulieVanZant]

Interesting. In my case, it shows these two are not determined or genotyped.
https://i.imgur.com/ZlSvlQG.png
https://i.imgur.com/FzQqvKz.png

Sequencing does have a decent genome browser which you could try for this.

[Cybele]

Sequencing does have a decent genome browser which you could try for this.
Good tip, thank you!

[Voskos]

I'm an alcoholic, flush no flush same shit to me.

[Boudin]

No need for any Asian genetics there. Women just tend to have less of the ALDH2 enzyme, needed to break down alcohol in general and coupled with usually higher bf to muscle ratio than men it can easily lead to a build up and thus to a flushed face. Hormones also come into play there. I reckon you`re more on the Estrogen heavy side, even for woman standards so this contributes too, since Estrogen lowers alcohol tolerance.

I also flush, but I'm not Asian. Does this mean I'm a woman? It would be the most interesting thing I've learned from 23andMe.


Interesting. In my case, it shows these two are not determined or genotyped.

Same.

[PaulieVanZant]

I also flush, but I'm not Asian. Does this mean I'm a woman? It would be the most interesting thing I've learned from 23andMe.



Same.

My answer obviously was directed at OP, who just happens to be a woman.
As for your case, maybe you`ve got some Native in your genes.

[Cybele]

Same.
Even if we are not genotyped for these genes, getting a flush reaction signals we should be cautious with alcohol consumption, as it puts us at a higher risk of different diseases.

[Ellethwyn]

Even if we are not genotyped for these genes, getting a flush reaction signals we should be cautious with alcohol consumption, as it puts us at a higher risk of different diseases.

Interesting! Alcohol makes me have a flush reaction. I am also very sensitive to alcohol. One beer and I am pretty drunk along with a pounding headache. Same with wine... vodka I can tolerate pretty well, as in I don't get a terrible headache. I don't drink at all though.

[Cybele]

Interesting! Alcohol makes me have a flush reaction. I am also very sensitive to alcohol. One beer and I am pretty drunk along with a pounding headache. Same with wine... vodka I can tolerate pretty well, as in I don't get a terrible headache.
It could be because certain beverages (red wine, beer) have more congeners on top of alcohol itself. And those can trigger a reaction as well. Vodka is clearer.

I don't drink at all though.
Wise choice. :)

[PaulieVanZant]

Right, thanks to the two answers above. Totally forgot, that things like histamines, sulfites and gluten can also play a huge role in this. These are usually way more prevalent in beer, wine, dark spirits, than in clear ones. This may as well also be Boudin`s problem.

[vandor]

Right, thanks to the two answers above. Totally forgot, that things like histamines, sulfites and gluten can also play a huge role in this. These are usually way more prevalent in beer, wine, dark spirits, than in clear ones. This may as well also be Boudin`s problem.

When I was like 23-24 years old, for example when we went to the countryisde with my friends, if we had lots of alco in the first eve (usually mostly beer and few hard spirits), the 2nd day one-two small glasses of hard spirits made my face red and feeling warm. We usually slept long after the first day, then in like 1 pm fried the remains of yesterday meat and other food, drinking some vodka or other spirit, eating and then drinking some remained beers. But the red face and warm feeling was coming exactly with hard spirits.

[HelloGuys]

No, I do not have that reaction, even tellmeGen shows me that I do not carry the gen:

SNP: rs671
Gen o Región: ALDH2
Genotipo: GG
Interpretación: Presenta dos copias funcionales de ALDH2. Poca o ninguna reacción de hipersensiblidad frente al alcohol.

[Ylla]

Right, thanks to the two answers above. Totally forgot, that things like histamines, sulfites and gluten can also play a huge role in this. These are usually way more prevalent in beer, wine, dark spirits, than in clear ones. This may as well also be Boudin`s problem.
It seems like an intolerance to alcohol and the way we metabolise it. Thankfully it’s only mild in my case but glad I’m not alone. :)