I have heard that it is possible to be allergic to alcohol: is it true? Alcohol is toxic to the body and once it enters the bloodstream, it must be quickly metabolized and eliminated.
The first enzyme to intervene is called alcohol dehydrogenase and it transforms ethanol into acetaldehyde, another toxic molecule. Another enzyme (acetaldehyde dehydrogenase), very similar to the first one, then transforms acetaldehyde into acetic acid, an organic acid, no longer toxic, but fundamental in the biochemistry of all forms of life.
In people with alcohol intolerance, a genetic mutation makes acetaldehyde dehydrogenase less active, if not inactive. Many Asian populations are affected by this type of intolerance and paradoxically, it protects them, as they are inclined to drink less.
There are therefore many more or less severe forms of alcohol intolerance, which also depend on the quantity consumed, whether on an empty stomach or not. The manifestations can vary from mild forms – such as runny nose, flushing of the face and neck, cough – to very severe forms, with difficulty breathing, headaches, nausea, vomiting.
Acetaldehyde is responsible for most of the discomfort of a hangover. At least in the Western population, many of the intolerances attributed to alcohol are actually due to other components present in alcoholic beverages, especially sulfites, which can cause migraines, hives, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and low blood pressure.
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February 7, 2024 (last edited on February 7, 2024 | 08:47)
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