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Alcohol tolerance - Printable Version

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- n144mann - 03-10-1999

Do any of you know why some people appear to have a much lower/higher alcohol tolerance than others?? My husband and I are good examples of this. We are both about 5'9", both within the ideal weight range (according to the lists used by the insurance people, differ in weight by about 20lbs), but he can drink much more than I without showing any effects. I, on the other hand, am tripping over the dog if I have more than 12 ounces of wine. (not quite that bad, but almost! Do not feel comfortable driving anymore) What physiological factors effect this? Have any of you run into this??

[This message has been edited by n144mann (edited 03-10-99).]


- Bucko - 03-10-1999

That is an easy one to answer, Nancy. Females do not have as much alcohol dehydrogenase as males (the enzyme that breaks down alcohol into its metabolites). Males can almost drink twice as much as females because of this - this proves that God is a male...... }:>

Bucko


- n144mann - 03-10-1999

Bummer, another biochemical injustice!!

As for God being male.....Not even going to touch that one [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by n144mann (edited 03-10-99).]


- n144mann - 03-11-1999

Well bucko, checked out your info with the hubbie, and appears you are right. What a bummer. So, since I only get to drink half as much, do I get the wine that is twice as expensive??? Would never want to be accused of being a cheap date. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Oh I was also wondering, when they do those alcohol studies, do they use men,women or both and average their findings?? And do they figure in that, in general, Asians and American Indians also show a lower tolerance to alcohol, than those of us with a European background?? Just curious.


- Bucko - 03-11-1999

Checking up on me, huh? Would I lie to you? <are my lips moving> You bring up some good points. Most studies try to control for various factors e.g. what you mention, but you have to look closely at the data.

Bucko


- n144mann - 03-11-1999

Noooo, never think a thing like that. But you know....well informed people never take info from just one source. Even one as reliable as you. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] Do you know a web site where I can check on more recent studies that the MADD and SADD people are quoting in their bid to lower the legal BAC??(among other things) I would like to take a look at them. (If not, maybe I can get the info from the Mayo Library through the hubbie's account, tougher but possible)

[This message has been edited by n144mann (edited 03-11-99).]


- Thomas - 03-11-1999

There was a study, I think in Lancet, that talked about Asians having a particular inability to metabolize ethanol properly. Bucko, have you heard of it?


- Bucko - 03-11-1999

You may be referring to the problem that about one-half of Asians experience - facial flushing from alcohol. Actually it is not an alcohol dehydrogenase problem, rather a problem with aldehyde dehydrogenase, or subset thereof, I think ALD2 or close.

Bucko


- Thomas - 03-12-1999

Bucko,

You got me on the technicals, but I do recall the study had something to do with aldehydes; the Asians could not metabolize ethanol into some kind of acid (acetic?) which is the norm.

In a book I worked on I discovered the study during research. I was looking for a clue as to why Asians throughout history seemed to view wine as merely a curiosity, after it was introduced in China during the Han Dynasty.