Polymorphism of aldehyde dehydrogenase and ethanol elimination

The influence of polymorphism of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) on ethanol elimination was investigated. Japanese healthy male volunteers were divided into two groups, i.e., a normal ALDH group of 52 subjects with the low Km isozyme of ALDH, and a deficient group of 48 subjects without it. The subjects of the normal group were given 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6 or 2.0 g/kg of ethanol, while those in the deficient group ingested 0.4, 0.8 or 1.2 g/kg of ethanol. Widmark's factors (beta 60, Co and r) and ethanol elimination rate (ER) were compared between the two groups. In the deficient group, beta 60 and ER were not clearly elevated with the increase of ethanol dose, while those in the normal ALDH group increased depending on the blood ethanol level. Blood acetaldehyde level was elevated with the increase of the ethanol dose in the deficient group, but not in the normal group. In the experiment of the repeated ingestion of ethanol in the deficient group, the second peak of blood acetaldehyde level was lower than that of the first one.