Alcohol flush reaction is best known as a condition that is experienced by people of East Asian descent.
According to the analysis by HapMap project, the rs671 (ALDH2*2) allele of the ALDH2 responsible for the flush reaction is rare among Europeans and Sub-Saharan Africans.
30% to 50% of people of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean ancestry have at least one ALDH2*2 allele.
The rs671 form of ALDH2, which accounts for most incidents of alcohol flush reaction worldwide, is native to East Asia and most common in southeastern China.
It most likely originated among Han Chinese in central China.
Another analysis correlates the rise and spread of rice cultivation in South China with the spread of the allele.
The reasons for this positive selection are not known, but it has been hypothesized that elevated concentrations of acetaldehyde may have conferred protection against certain parasitic infections, such as Entamoeba histolytica.
Alcohol flush reaction is best known as a condition that is experienced by people of East Asian descent. According to the analysis by HapMap project, the rs671 (ALDH2*2) allele of the ALDH2 responsible for the flush reaction is rare among Europeans and Sub-Saharan Africans. 30% to 50% of people of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean ancestry have at least one ALDH2*2 allele. The rs671 form of ALDH2, which accounts for most incidents of alcohol flush reaction worldwide, is native to East Asia and most common in southeastern China. It most likely originated among Han Chinese in central China. Another analysis correlates the rise and spread of rice cultivation in South China with the spread of the allele. The reasons for this positive selection are not known, but it has been hypothesized that elevated concentrations of acetaldehyde may have conferred protection against certain parasitic infections, such as Entamoeba histolytica.
Alcohol flush reaction