Aldehyde dehydrogenase isozyme deficiency and alcohol sensitivity in four different Chinese populations.

Four different populations of China were studied regarding aldehyde dehydrogenase isozyme variation and incidence of alcohol sensitivity. While Korean and Mongolian minorities in the north showed an isozyme I deficiency with a frequency of about 25 and 30%, 45-50% of Zhuang and Han were deficient, respectively. Adverse reactions after alcohol drinking were mainly reported by those subjects who showed the lack of aldehyde dehydrogenase isozyme I.