Joseph Wu and Che-Hong Chen on alcohol intolerance in “90 Seconds with Lisa Kim”
Joseph Wu and Che-Hong Chen on alcohol intolerance in “90 Seconds with Lisa Kim”
See Video HERE!
About a third of people of East Asian descent have a genetic variant that leads to “Asian glow,” a distinctive red flushing that appears after drinking alcohol. It’s due to the body’s inability to rid itself of acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of metabolizing alcohol.
The variant causes more harm than embarrassment at a cocktail party. Deficiency in aldehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme that converts acetaldehyde into acetate (which the body harmlessly excretes) significantly increases the risk of coronary artery disease for the world’s estimated 540 million people who carry the variant, especially for those who drink.
A study led by Stanford Medicine, published Jan. 25 in Science Translational Medicine, demonstrates that ALDH2 deficiency can damage the cells that line the inside of blood vessels. This damage goes a long way toward explaining the association between the condition and high rates of coronary artery disease, said Joseph Wu, MD, PhD, professor of cardiovascular medicine and of radiology, director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, and senior author of the study.
Che-Hong Chen, a senior research scientist at the Stanford School of Medicine who has been studying alcohol intolerance for over 15 years, aims to spread awareness of its risks and harmful effects. At one recent event for college students, Chen taught them a simple trick (shown in the video) to determine whether they have the genetic variant for Asian glow. Beyond scientific publications and research to shift public perception on alcohol intake, Chen’s latest effort involves launching a new day of recognition in East Asia and beyond: No Alcohol Day on May 9.
Watch the video above to learn more. Read more about Chen’s research and public health efforts on the Scope blog, and read more about Stephen Wu’s research developments on the News Center.
Get to know the Stanford Medicine community members in this installment of “90 Seconds”:
Joseph Wu, MD, PhD, is a professor of cardiovascular medicine and of radiology. He is also director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and senior author of the study. His clinical interests include adult congenital heart disease and cardiovascular imaging.
Che-Hong Chen, PhD, is a senior research scientist at the Stanford School of Medicine. Chen has been studying alcohol intolerance for over 15 years.
Lisa Kim is senior manager of media relations for Stanford Medicine. She has a deep background in journalism and is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who has covered stories on both the national and local levels.