Comments on: Hangover cures in Japan http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/ From kimono to keitai; research Japanese facts and figures through translated opinion polls and surveys. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:09:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Girvin Strategic Branding Design Blog | Quick shot | brand, image, context & story http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/#comment-95489 Girvin Strategic Branding Design Blog | Quick shot | brand, image, context & story Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:33:56 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/#comment-95489 [...] http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/ http://gaijintonic.com/2008/03/27/japanese-hangover-cures/ [...] […] http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/ http://gaijintonic.com/2008/03/27/japanese-hangover-cures/ […]

]]> By: Japanese Hangover Cures « Gaijin Tonic http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/#comment-76097 Japanese Hangover Cures « Gaijin Tonic Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:53:40 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/#comment-76097 [...] website What Japan Thinks conducted a survey of Japanese people to find their preferred hangover cures. The internationally [...] […] website What Japan Thinks conducted a survey of Japanese people to find their preferred hangover cures. The internationally […]

]]> By: Fantastic Japanese Booze Statistics « Gaijin Tonic http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/#comment-44929 Fantastic Japanese Booze Statistics « Gaijin Tonic Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:37:42 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/#comment-44929 [...] Drinking water is the most popular hangover cure in Japan. [...] […] Drinking water is the most popular hangover cure in Japan. […]

]]> By: Ken Y-N (Seron) http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/#comment-383 Ken Y-N (Seron) Wed, 19 Apr 2006 15:15:58 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/#comment-383 Yes, I believe that about 50% or more of the Japanese population are missing an enzyme that breaks down alcohol. Oh. I searched Google and found <a href="http://scienceweek.com/2005/sb050225-2.htm" rel="nofollow">this in Science Week</a> that says: <blockquote>Ethanol is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and more than 90 percent is metabolized by the liver through oxidative mechanism involving mainly the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase and certain other enzymes. Alcohol cannot be stored and all of it is metabolized. Alcohol dehydrogenase oxidizes alcohol to acetaldehyde. Apparently, <strong>approximately 85 percent of the Japanese population</strong> has an atypical alcohol dehydrogenase that operates about 5 times faster than the same enzyme does in non-Japanese. Other Asian groups may exhibit the same phenomenon. Consumption of alcohol by such persons leads to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, resulting in extensive vasodilation, facial flushing, and compensatory tachycardia (rapid heartbeat greater than 100 per minute).</blockquote> However, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_alcohol_content">Wikipedia</a> (but given what I say about Wikipedia in other places...) says: <blockquote>Many east Asians (e.g. <strong>about half of Japanese</strong>) have impaired acetaldehyde dehydrogenase; this causes acetaldehyde levels to peak higher, producing more severe hangovers and other effects such as flushing and tachycardia.</blockquote> (My bolding to highlight) Yes, I believe that about 50% or more of the Japanese population are missing an enzyme that breaks down alcohol.

Oh. I searched Google and found this in Science Week that says:

Ethanol is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and more than 90 percent is metabolized by the liver through oxidative mechanism involving mainly the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase and certain other enzymes. Alcohol cannot be stored and all of it is metabolized. Alcohol dehydrogenase oxidizes alcohol to acetaldehyde. Apparently, approximately 85 percent of the Japanese population has an atypical alcohol dehydrogenase that operates about 5 times faster than the same enzyme does in non-Japanese. Other Asian groups may exhibit the same phenomenon. Consumption of alcohol by such persons leads to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, resulting in extensive vasodilation, facial flushing, and compensatory tachycardia (rapid heartbeat greater than 100 per minute).

However, Wikipedia (but given what I say about Wikipedia in other places…) says:

Many east Asians (e.g. about half of Japanese) have impaired acetaldehyde dehydrogenase; this causes acetaldehyde levels to peak higher, producing more severe hangovers and other effects such as flushing and tachycardia.

(My bolding to highlight)

]]> By: tom http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/#comment-379 tom Wed, 19 Apr 2006 10:23:26 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/04/14/hangover-cures-in-japan/#comment-379 I'm reading this at work, suffering with a terrible hangover, so being at home under a duvet sounds very appealing. Do you know if there's any truth in the idea I've heard a few times that a proportion of Japanese people have a genetic abnormality which makes them very succeptible to getting ill drinking? I’m reading this at work, suffering with a terrible hangover, so being at home under a duvet sounds very appealing.

Do you know if there’s any truth in the idea I’ve heard a few times that a proportion of Japanese people have a genetic abnormality which makes them very succeptible to getting ill drinking?

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