Qexp-MDx ALDH2 Genotyping Kit

In 1981, Japanese scientist Dr. Harada discovered that people who lack Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH2) will flush when drinking alcohol. This phenomenon is called Alcohol Intolerance. According to a study by the Stanford University School of Medicine, people with a genetic condition in the ALDH2 gene (ALDH2 Deficiency) are easy to skin flush after drinking. If they drink 2 glasses of red wine a day, the risk ratio of head and neck cancer and esophageal cancer will be 50 times higher than normal.

WHY it is such high in the Asian region?
According to research, the genetic variation of ALDH2 can be traced back to about 2000 to 3000 years ago, the Baiyue ethnic group in China. It caused the proportion of Han descendants with alcohol intolerance quite high. In Taiwan, up to half of the population suffer from it, making it the country with the highest rate of alcohol intolerance in the world.

WHAT are the risks of ALDH2 Deficiency?
In 2007, the WHO listed acetaldehyde converted from alcohol as a primary carcinogen. Due to acetaldehyde, a product of incomplete metabolism of alcohol, people with genetic conditions in ALDH2 are prone to drunkenness, hangovers, headaches after drinking, and rapid heartbeat. In addition, they may have continuously higher risks of cancer, stroke, Fanconi Anemia, Myocardial infarction, Heart failure, Peripheral artery disease, depression, diabetes and its syndromes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other diseases as acetaldehyde accumulate.

3 STEPs to know your genotype