How can you stop the “Asian Flush” when drinking alcohol?
Sorry, PP, but there’s no easy answer to this question. The cause of alcohol flush reaction (AKA Asian Flush, Asian Glow, Oriental Flush, Russian Glow) is due to a missense polymorphism that encodes the enzyme, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) [1], normally responsible for breaking down acetaldehyde, a product of the metabolism of alcohol. Flushing, or blushing, is associated with the erythema (reddening caused by dilation of capillaries) of the face, neck, shoulder, and in some cases, the entire body after consumption of alcohol. Research has shown that a history of facial flushing when drinking is indicative of ALDH2 deficiency, and that a ALDH2-deficient drinker has 6 to 10 times the risk of developing esophageal cancer as a drinker not deficient in the enzyme. So, now that you know why your boyfriend flushes when he drinks, are there any remedies? There is a body of anecdotal evidence that taking common OTC medications for heartburn relief, such as Zantac or Pepcid AC, which cont
