Individual differences in blood and breath acetaldehyde levels and urinary excretion of catecholamines after alcohol intake.

Sixty three male Japanese, aged 20-40 yr were evaluated as to the degree of facial flushing following a controlled dose of ethanol either as Japanese rice wine or ethanol 0.4 g kg body weight. Thirty four subjects responded with overt facial flushing. The acetaldehyde levels in blood and expired air were significantly higher in the flushing group without a change in ethanol elimination rate. Urinary excretion of Vanilmandelic acid (VMA) and 3 methyoxy-4-Hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) are reported.