Research Grants Program Office

Nearly 540 million people world-wide have facial flushing and an increased heart rate after consuming alcohol.  Known as the alcohol flushing response, this reaction to alcohol is a result of a genetic variant in an enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), known as ALDH2*2.  Mainly carried by those of East Asian descent, the genetic variant is likely the most common genetic variant carried in the world.  Carrying this ALDH2*2 genetic variant has important health implications with respect cancer risk which is increased when carriers of the ALDH2*2 genetic variant frequently use of alcohol or tobacco products.   This comic explains the alcohol flush response and the health risks associated with alcohol and tobacco use for those who carry an ALDH2*2 variant.