This at-home DNA test can reveal the gene behind your alcohol sensitivity

Do you feel nauseous, experience facial flushing, or have a racing heart after just a sip of your favorite cocktail? These could be signs of an inherited

alcohol intolerance

caused by a gene mutation. Now, an

at-home DNA test

can reveal if your genes are behind your reaction, helping you understand your body’s unique response to alcohol.
Having a certain gene mutation can inhibit body from making an enzyme that helps break down alcohol and eliminate its byproducts from the body as per health experts.

More about the test

What it finds out: If you suffer from these symptoms and wonder whether or not you have the mutation, there is a test to look for it. The test looks for mutations in the ADH and ALDH genes, which affect metabolism.

How much it costs: The testing kit costs approximately $150.
How to perform it: One has to swab the cheek and mail the sample back to a laboratory company to check if gene mutations are there. You have to wait for the results for around two weeks to know.

What are ADH and ALDH genes

The enzymes ADH and ALDH break down alcohol in the body, and genetic variations in their encoding genes affect how quickly this happens. Some genetic variants speed up alcohol processing, reducing alcoholism risk, while others slow it down, also offering protection. These genetic differences vary across ethnic groups and play a role in alcohol consumption and addiction risk.

The enzymes responsible for

alcohol metabolism

are alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which are encoded by various genes. These genes have different variants (alleles) that affect how alcohol is processed in the body, and their distribution varies across ethnic groups, according to Alcohol Research & Health.

ADH catalyses the oxidation of beverage alcohol (ethanol) into acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde then is further metabolized by ALDH into acetate. These two reactions need to be properly coordinated in the body because accumulation of acetaldehyde can lead to heightened responses as well as unpleasant reactions, such as flushing, nausea, vomiting, hypotension, and/or rapid heartbeat, as per journal Alcohol Research.
Certain alleles of the ADH1B and ADH1C genes make the enzyme more active, speeding up alcohol conversion to acetaldehyde, which can reduce the risk of alcoholism. Similarly, a variant of the ALDH2 gene results in a less active enzyme, causing acetaldehyde to accumulate, which also reduces alcoholism risk.

Studies show that specific gene variants are linked to lower alcohol consumption and a reduced likelihood of developing alcohol use disorders. These gene variations influence the rate of alcohol metabolism and vary among ethnic groups, with some groups being more likely to carry protective alleles. Research is ongoing to understand the full impact of these genetic variations, including noncoding variants that may also influence alcohol metabolism and addiction risk.
This test can help an individual find out to some extent about their alcohol intolerance. This can make people with the defective gene to have alcohol in lower doses. However, experts warn that the test may encourage people to drink more if the test doesn’t reveal any genetic variation.
Alcohol is associated with a range of short-term and long-term issues and must be consumed in moderation.