Acetaldehyde-mediated alcohol sensitivity and elevation of plasma catecholamine in man

According to the presence and absence of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) I isozyme which had low Km for acetaldehyde, subjects were divided into two groups: the former, the usual ALDH group and the latter, the unusual ALDH one. Blood alcohol and acetaldehyde levels, plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels, and urinary excretion of norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) were determined; and the differences in these values and cardiovascular symptoms after alcohol intake between the two groups were investigated. Fifty-six healthy male volunteers were studied after they ingested 0.4 g of alcohol per kg of body weight. There was no difference in blood alcohol level between the two groups. In the unusual ALDH group, facial flushing, increase of pulse rate and decrease in diastolic blood pressure associated with accumulation of blood acetaldehyde were shown. In addition, rises in plasma catecholamine and urinary excretion of catecholamine were also observed. However, in the usual ALDH group, in which blood acetaldehyde level scarcely increased, these changes were not significant. The alteration of catecholamine metabolism, decrease in urinary VMA and increase in urinary MHPG was recognized in both groups.