1 upvotes, 1 direct replies (showing 1)
View submission: Ask Anything Wednesday - Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Medicine, Psychology
Biology / Chemistry:
Why are some people (not considering body weight and sex) seemingly impervious to alcohol while others will get wasted or get a headache outright with just one or two drinks?
Is the mechanism related to why hangovers, or just alcohol-induced headaches, seem to get worse with age but much more so for some people than others?
Comment by CocktailChemist at 13/03/2025 at 13:03 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
The primary path of ethanol detoxification involves two steps, first the oxidation to acetaldehyde, then further oxidation to acetic acid. Each step is carried out by a separate enzyme and both the abundance and the efficiency of those enzymes can vary. For instance, in some people the second enzyme is largely absent or ineffective, so acetaldehyde builds up very rapidly causing flush and pretty intense discomfort.