Description
Alcohol tolerance test measures your genetic predisposition to alcohol flush reaction. If you have a genetic variant that causes the alcohol flush reaction, you are very sensitive to side effects caused by alcohol consumption and less likely to become dependent on alcohol.
Alcohols create a group of organic compounds derived from hydrocarbons and containing one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups. In alcoholic beverage ethanol (C2H5OH, ethyl alcohol) is found, the substance is known to be psychoactive.
Psychoactive substances are those that cause certain psychological effects and when consumed regularly lead to both psychological and physical addiction.
Alcohol tolerance
The capacity of the body to tolerate certain amounts of alcohol is known as alcohol tolerance. This might be checked by the Alcohol tolerance test.
The conception of alcohol tolerance includes direct tolerance, the continuation of ebriety and resistance to the development of alcohol dependence.
The liver
The average adult metabolizes 0.6 Oz of ethanol for 90 minutes. The liver breaks down alcohol by producing enzymes called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Alcohol dehydrogenase acts by catalyzing the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes.
It is considered that when a person consumes alcohol in large amounts regularly the liver produces more enzymes and the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase is elevated, therefore the metabolism of ethanol happens faster. As the alcohol tolerance gene is eliminated quickly the person experiences the need to drink more in order to reach the same effect as before.
