The Truth of the “Asian Glow”

 Amongst the East Asian population, people share a common trait that, when alcohol is

consumed, their face turns a shade of red. Some say that this is a sign of strong qi (energy flow),

good blood circulation, or on the more undesirable side, that they have a low tolerance for

alcohol. While getting a red face is, most of the time, seen as a mere physical reaction, studies

show that this reaction could cause much more harm than most realize. 

The main way that the body metabolizes alcohol is truly dependent on two enzymes: alcohol

dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2). Alcohol dehydrogenase first

converts alcohol into acetaldehyde and then ALDH2 breaks down acetaldehyde into harmless

compounds. Due to genomic differences, 80 percent of East Asians have an overactive alcohol

dehydrogenase which causes alcohol to convert to acetaldehyde up to 100 times quicker than the

average person. More so, East Asians also contain an inactive variant of ALDH2, causing

acetaldehyde to clear from the blood at a much slower rate.

Due to these genomic differences, there is a build-up of acetaldehyde in the blood which causes

the blood vessels to dilate, resulting in the face turning red. However, this build-up is much more

harmful than many presume as acetaldehyde is known to be more toxic than alcohol and is a

cancer-causing agent. Acetaldehyde May trigger inflammation in the upper gastrointestinal tract,

cause DNA damage, and further increase a person’s risk for esophageal and stomach cancers.

These risks may increase at a 10 times higher rate than that of a person who has normal ALDH2.

This being said, while this red flush is commonly overlooked, people should be properly

informed that this reaction holds much more harm than meets the eye.

Amy Perez (3)

https://www.healthxchange.sg/food-nutrition/food-tips/asian-flush-alcohol-red-face

Comments

  1. Sneha MageshOctober 4, 2022 at 9:40 AM

    Hi Amy! I have always heard about Asian glow and wondered why it happens! Especially, because it only mostly happens in the East Asian population. Now that you have explained this it makes sense. I wonder why a strong energy flow causes a flushed face when consuming alcohol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousOctober 7, 2022 at 5:07 PM

      Hi Sneha! While doing research on this topic, I found it very interesting that some people associated this red flush with having a strong energy flow. I presume that this is just a cultural explanation for the reaction rather than something more scientific based, but I could surely be wrong about that.
      Amy Perez

      Delete
  2. AnonymousOctober 4, 2022 at 7:17 PM

    Hi Amy! I know a little about the Asian “glow” because my mom experiences it sometimes, but I’ve never learned what actually causes it. I’m always intrigued to understand the cellular processes that cause things people experience in their everyday lives like having a flushed face from drinking alcohol. I’m curious to know why such a high percentage of East Asians have an overactive alcohol dehydrogenase compared to the rest of the world. Do you think evolution may play a part in this?
    Sarah Belcher

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousOctober 7, 2022 at 5:11 PM

      Hi Sarah! I definitely think that evolution plays a large role as to why a lot of East Asians have an overactive alcohol dehydrogenase and inactive ALDH2. I've also previously read that this red flush is also common amongst those who come from Ashkenazi Jewish descent. There must have been something along the lines of evolution that caused different racial groups to be prone to inheriting such genes.
      Amy Perez

      Delete
  3. AnonymousOctober 5, 2022 at 8:59 AM

    Wow 80% of the East Asian population that is huge. I wonder is there a way that people who experience this can drink in moderation or drink a certain type of alcohol that decreases harmful effects, or is it highly recommended that people with Asian flush don't drink at all?
    -Ila Bedenkop

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousOctober 7, 2022 at 5:15 PM

      Hi Ila! I've read in the past that if someone has a red flush while drinking, they should wait until the flush has passed before putting more alcohol in their system in order to not cause an acetaldehyde overload. Knowing this, I presume that if it can be helped, it is recommended to drink in moderation. However, it is important to understand that any alcohol in the system may cause some sort of damage to the DNA.
      Amy Perez

      Delete
  4. AnonymousOctober 5, 2022 at 7:09 PM

    Hey Amy! I've always known what Asian glow was but it's interesting to hear more about the science behind why it happens. I had heard a lot of people call the Asian glow an allergy against alcohol. I wonder how it compares to an allergic reaction?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousOctober 5, 2022 at 7:09 PM

      - Ritika Koirala

      Delete
    2. AnonymousOctober 7, 2022 at 5:20 PM

      Hi Ritika! This is a great question. The reaction that people get from having too much acetaldehyde in the system undergoes a downstream process that is very similar to having an allergic reaction, however, it is still not necessarily considered as one. I would compare this to something just as common as being Lactose Intolerant. Those who have lactose intolerance certainly have a reaction to lactose, however, they aren't allergic to it. I feel like this would be a comparable concept to the Asian Glow (thinking of it as an "alcohol intolerance").
      Amy Perez

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Strain-Induced Jamming in a Spirostomum Ambiguum Cell

Spirostomum ambiguum are single-celled organisms that reside on sediment beds of brackish water habitats. These worm-like organisms range in size from 1 to 4 mm and feast on surrounding bacteria. However, there is more to meet the eye regarding this tiny aquatic organism. In a fraction of the time it takes to blink, Spirotomum ambiguum can shrink to more than half its original length. This contraction generates a gravitational force equivalent (g-force - a measure of acceleration) that is 10,000 times greater than that experienced by any other contracting cell. The energy produced is large enough to destroy the internal structures of a cell. However, this single-cell organism manages to dissipate this energy. Manu Prakash and Ray Chang of Stanford University noticed after imaging the insides of Spirostomum ambiguum cells before and after they had undergone a contraction event that their internal structures vacuoles (fluid-filled sacs) appear to entangle in the folds of a membrane-like ...
Read more

Did Corona Virus Feel Much Longer than it Actually Was? It May Have Also Changed Your Personality

 Everyone knows of those big historical events in which each person knows exactly where they were and what they were doing when they got the news. The release of the first iPhone, the announcement of the first African American president, and the national legalization of same-sex marriage are just to name a few. Endless monumental events help shape our society and give us a sense of community. Each is revolutionary in its own ways and vary per person, but some happen to make a more direct impact on all of us. Unfortunately, repeated time and time again these events are typically negative due to a trauma stress response. Coronavirus beginning 2020 is and will always be a unifying factor for every person who can recall the events. Its unique, sudden, and unpredictable nature makes it prominent in our government, healthcare, and local communities. What I’ve come to the realization of is that Coronavirus also had a drastic effect on our life order and even our personalities. In an artic...
Read more

Slimy Skincare: The Effects of Snail Mucin on Skin

If you’ve been on the right side of TikTok for a decent amount of time, you’ve definitely noticed an uptick in the popularity of snail mucin in skincare. The skincare industry never fails in shifting the goalposts for women all over the world. There is always some new fad or brand that is the “must-have” for the week and then vanishes into obscurity. Even worse, some of these fads can end up negatively impacting your skin. I definitely don’t need to remind anyone of the tragedy that was the St. Ives scrub (holy microtears). Usually, trends in beauty and skincare are driven by brands rather than particular ingredients or additives, which makes the popularity of snail mucin even more notable. Are the beauty influencers finally onto something, or is this yet another damaging trend that no one will remember in a month? A study done in May 2022 using hairless mice as a proxy for human skin showed that snail mucin does in fact lessen the effects of aging. In this study, exposure to UV rays w...
Read more