• Alcohol consumption is an integral part of the Japanese business culture.
• Many East Asians have a mutant form of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which is a key enzyme in the elimination of alcohol-induced acetaldehyde.
• Individuals with inactive ALDH2 do not appear to be able to eliminate acetaldehyde from their systems, which increases their susceptibility to hangovers.

Alcohol consumption is an integral part of the Japanese business culture. Hangovers, however, can have substantial economic drawbacks. A recent study that examines hangovers and genetics among Japanese workers has found that the toxicity of acetaldehyde the first product of alcohol metabolism leads to hangovers in individuals with a particular genotype. Results are published in the July issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

"Many Japanese love the idea of group harmony," said Masako Yokoyama of the Mitsukoshi Health and Welfare Foundation and corresponding author for the study. "Going out drinking with various colleagues after work is an essential element of Japanese business society. It is socially acceptable to get fairly drunk on such occasions."

Hiromasa Ishii, president of the Japanese Medical Society of Alcohol Studies and Drug Dependence and Professor Emeritus at KEIO University in Tokyo, concurs. "Drinking alcoholic beverages with working colleagues after a customary 10-hour day at the office is an important part of business society in Japan, despite the fact that 40 to 45 percent of the Japanese people possess inactive ALDH2," he said.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is a key enzyme in the elimination of alcohol-induced acetaldehyde, which is a toxic compound. If the ALDH enzyme is normal, then acetaldehyde is metabolized very quickly. If it is not, people can experience cardiovascular complications, drowsiness, nausea, asthma and facial flushing. Many East Asians who have a mutant allele called ALDH
'"/>


14-Jul-2005

Page: 1 2 3
Related biology news :

1. Joslin researchers discover a surprising culprit in the search for causes of diabetic birth defects
2. Dipstick test for meningitis culprits
3. Pine plantations may be one culprit in increasing carbon dioxide levels
4. Pollution trackers hit the road to pinpoint airborne culprits
5. Mad-cow culprit maintains stem cells
6. Fat overload kills mammalian cells key culprit identified
7. Pinpointing a culprit molecule in Alzheimers disease
8. Forsyth scientists find blue light fights gum disease culprits
9. Cigarette smoke a culprit in poor healing and increased scarring
10. Sniffing out the culprits of dust allergies
11. A new culprit in depression?