A new at-home DNA test can detect a gene mutation that causes alcohol intolerance, leading to symptoms like nausea, flushing, and a racing heart.
Do you experience nausea, facial flushing or a racing heart after enjoying even small amounts of your favorite cocktail? These could be signs that you have an inherited intolerance to alcohol — and a mutated gene could be the culprit, according to Cleveland Clinic. This gene mutation hampers the body’s ability to produce an enzyme that helps break down alcohol and eliminate its byproducts from the body, health experts said.
An at-home DNA test could detect whether you have the mutation causing this alcohol adversity. The test looks for mutations in the ADH and ALDH genes, which affect metabolism, according to several laboratory company websites that produce the testing kits. The testing kit, which costs approximately $150, involves swabbing the cheek and mailing the sample back to a laboratory company to see if the gene mutations are present. “A simple mouth swab is all we need to find out whether you have inherited DNA changes that affect your ability to metabolize alcohol and may increase your risk of serious health complications,” Genex Diagnostics, a Seattle-based company that specializes in DNA testing, stated on its website. Dr. Frances Lee — a hepatologist (liver doctor) who specializes in alcohol-related liver disease at Mount Sinai Health Systems in New York City — is not affiliated with any of the lab companies, but commented to Fox News Digital about these testing kits.The ADH1B and ADH1C genes help break down ethanol (alcohol) into the chemical acetaldehyde, he said. The ALDH2 gene then helps to oxidize acetaldehyde into acetic acid. “This is an important step in the metabolism of ethanol, because acetaldehyde is toxic and inflammatory to cells,” Lee said. “Variations in the ALDH2 gene can cause acetaldehyde dehydrogenase to work at a slower rate, leading to a buildup of acetaldehyde levels in the body.
Alcohol Intolerance Gene Mutation DNA Test ADH ALDH
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