Many of East Asian descent experience facial flushing when drinking alcohol due to an enzyme deficiency. Unfortunately, many studies have shown that people with aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) deficiency, the cause of Asian Flush, have a higher chance of getting esophageal cancer. ALDH2 deficiency is a genetic mutation of the ALDH2 enzyme and this deficiency causes the enzyme unable to break down acetaldehyde properly.  A study conducted by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and Japan's Kurihama Alcohol Centre investigated the harm of acetaldehyde build-up for people who suffer from Asian Flush and its connection to esophageal cancer. [1]This study suggests that people who possess the ALDH2 deficiency are approximately 6-10 times more likely to get esophageal cancer from consuming alcohol than those who have fully active ALDH2 enzyme and do not get the alcohol flush reaction. Furthermore, serious drinkers who consume more than 33 drinks a week or more and have the alcohol flush reaction are 89 times more likely to get esophageal cancer than those who don’t drink.

 

Acetaldehyde, a toxin and the by-product of alcohol metabolism, is blamed as the main cause for increased cancer risk for those who experience Asian Flush. When consuming alcohol, the ethanol in the drink is first broken down to acetaldehyde by an enzyme in the liver called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Then the acetaldehyde is broken down to acetate by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2). For those who have Asian Flush, their ALDH2 enzyme does not work properly and the acetaldehyde cannot be metabolised sufficiently.  As the acetaldehyde starts to build up in the body, an immune response is triggered and the bright red face and other uncomfortable feelings are all part of the immune response to the high levels of acetaldehyde. Worse than the flushing and increased heart rate, acetaldehyde also leads to an elevated risk of esophageal cancer.

 

It almost sounds like those who suffer from Asian Flush should just stop drinking completely to avoid the negative health consequences. However, this problem can be solved by tackling the root of the problem, acetaldehyde. iBlush Patch is formulated antioxidants that have been proven to bind to acetaldehyde and can effectively reduce this toxin along with vitamins that provide extra liver support. Get your iBlush Patch today

 

1. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000050