Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is an enzyme that is responsible for Breakdown of alcohol (topic of residual alcohol) in the body. It converts the harmful substance acetaldehyde, which is produced during the conversion of alcohol, into acetate, which is then further broken down and ultimately excreted from the body.
People with low ALDH activity may have reduced tolerance to alcohol because alcohol is broken down more slowly and acetaldehyde can build up in the body, leading to unpleasant symptoms such as facial flushing, nausea, and heart palpitations. A common example of this is people with alcohol intolerance, particularly those of Asian descent, where genetically low ALDH activity is common.
