Hangover susceptibility in relation to aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 genotype, alcohol flushing, and mean corpuscular volume in Japanese workers.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study
PubMed 16046871 · doi:10.1097/01.alc.0000172457.62535.ee
What was done
Associations between hangover susceptibility, ALDH2 genotype, alcohol flushing, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were evaluated in a cross-sectional study of 251 Japanese workers (139 men, 112 women).
What was found
Inactive ALDH2*1/2*2 heterozygotes drank less alcohol overall than active ALDH2*1/2*1 homozygotes (p < 0.0001), but annual hangover frequency did not differ significantly between genotypes for either sex. The reported amount of alcohol leading to a hangover was significantly lower for ALDH2*1/2*2 heterozygotes than ALDH2*1/2*1 homozygotes (p < 0.005). The proportion of men experiencing hangovers three or more times in the past year increased significantly with daily alcohol consumption in ALDH2*1/2*2 men (p = 0.0002) but not in ALDH2*1/2*1 men. Among men consuming <44 g of ethanol per day, median drinking before hangover was significantly lower in ALDH2*1/2*2 men than ALDH2*1/2*1 men. Men with MCV >= 96 had a significantly higher risk of hangover than those with MCV < 91 (odds ratio = 5.56; 95% confidence interval = 1.69-18.25).
Why it matters
These findings suggest that impaired acetaldehyde metabolism lowers the threshold for alcohol hangovers, supporting an etiological link between acetaldehyde exposure and hangover development.
Limits
The study was cross-sectional and relied on retrospective self-reports of alcohol intake and hangover thresholds. The sample was limited to 251 Japanese workers, and subgroup analyses yielded wide confidence intervals.
Cited by
- supports People with an aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene variant that slows acetaldehyde metabolism experience worse hangover symptoms and experience hangovers at lower amounts of alcohol consumption.