My X-Men Super Power
Aldehyde dehydrogenase is the enzyme in your liver that helps you get rid of alcohol (actually, it’s the second step in the process, but I digress). Some people of Asian decent have less of this enzyme, so when they drink alcohol, they can turn red; in most texts, this is a mutation that decreases alcohol metabolism.
Turns out that everyone else is the mutation. If you look at animals’ versions of aldehyde dehydrogenase, they’re more similar to the Asian version of the enzyme; so somewhere along the way (Germany? Russia? England?), I evolved the ability to drink more. (Disulfram, a drug that can help alcoholics stop drinking, blocks this enzyme, making you flush, and not enjoy the alcohol as much.)
So no, I can’t control the weather, shoot force beams out of my eyes, or read minds… but I can drink more alcohol. Better than nothing, I guess.
I have the same mutation, even though I’m Asian! I think I’d prefer spidey sense, but I’ll take what I can get.
All my life I’ve felt like I was less mutated than everyone else around me. Now I know why.
Hmm. I can drink lots, and sober up quickly, but I still get very flushed when I drink. Any idea what’s going on there?
taking an H2 blocker, like ranitidine, often helps. some people get more relief than others from it, but it’s inexpensive and worth trying. take it about a half-an-hour before you plan to drink. good luck!
i had never heard that perhaps the aldehyde dehydrogenase more common among people of asian descent was the wild type. interesting…
Heh, I didn’t expect you to find my lj at all! Your comment was much appreciated. :)