Alcohol sensitivity may cause unpleasant side effects when drinking. A single alcoholic beverage can be enough for those with sensitivity to experience dizziness, nausea, headaches and a red skin flushing reaction on the face, neck and shoulders. This reaction is caused by a build-up of a toxic alcohol processing by-product called acetaldehyde.

This alcohol test covers two genes (ADH1B and ALDH2) that are important for alcohol processing in the body. ADH1B enzyme converts alcohol to acetaldehyde that is toxic for our body while ALDH2 enzyme is responsible for the clearance of acetaldehyde from the body.

Alcohol drinking may result in unpleasant symptoms for some individuals. These include:

• Severe dizziness
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Red skin flushing reaction on the face, neck and shoulders
• Palpitations

Please note that the duration and frequency of alcohol drinking may affect the appearance of the symptoms associated with alcohol drinking. Long time/ heavy drinkers may develop tolerance to these symptoms. Therefore this genetic test will not be able to tell for certain whether an individual will show the listed alcohol side effects.

There are different ways alcohol can affect a person’s health and there is no amount that is safe for everyone (www.alcohol.gov.au)

Alcohol occupies a significant place in Australian culture and is consumed in a wide range of social circumstances. In general, alcohol is consumed in Australia at levels of low immediate risk. However, some people drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related injury, as well as their risk of developing health problems over the course of their life. ⁷

According to 2007-2008 data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1 in 9 Australian drink alcohol at a risky or high level*. ⁷

Based on 2007-2008 data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 21% of Australians aged 18+ consumed alcohol at a risky or high level⁷. That is more than 2 standard drinks per day. ⁷

Signs and symptoms of alcohol use disorder may include:

• Unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink
• Wanting to cut down on how much you drink or making unsuccessful attempts to do so
• Spending a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol or recovering from alcohol use
• Feeling a strong craving or urge to drink alcohol
• Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home due to repeated alcohol use
• Continuing to drink alcohol even though you know it's causing physical, social or interpersonal problems
• Giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies
• Using alcohol in situations where it's not safe, such as when driving or swimming
• Developing a tolerance to alcohol so you need more to feel its effect or you have a reduced effect from the same amount
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms — such as nausea, sweating and shaking — when you don't drink, or drinking to avoid these symptoms

* More than 4 standard drinks per day for males and more than 2 for females.

** As per 2009 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) lifetime risk guidelines.

1. Zhang GH, Mai RQ, Huang B. Meta-analysis of ADH1B and ALDH2 polymorphisms and esophageal cancer risk in China. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16(47): 6020-5.
2. Yokoyama M, Yokoyama A, Yokoyama T, et al. Hangover susceptibility in relation to aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 genotype, alcohol flushing, and mean corpuscular volume in Japanese workers. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research 2005; 29(7): 1165-71.
3. Chen CC, Lu RB, Chen YC, et al. Interaction between the functional polymorphisms of the alcohol-metabolism genes in protection against alcoholism. Am J Hum Genet 1999; 65(3): 795-807.
4. Guo H, Zhang G, Mai R. Alcohol dehydrogenase-1B Arg47His polymorphism and upper aerodigestive tract cancer risk: a meta-analysis including 24,252 subjects. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research 2012; 36(2): 272-8.
5. Chuang SC, Agudo A, Ahrens W, et al. Sequence Variants and the Risk of Head and Neck Cancer: Pooled Analysis in the INHANCE Consortium. Front Oncol 2011; 1: 13.
6. Zhang G, Mai R, Huang B. ADH1B Arg47His polymorphism is associated with esophageal cancer risk in high-incidence Asian population: evidence from a meta-analysis. PLoS One 2010; 5(10): e13679.
7. http://www.abs.gov.au
8. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20369243

We have developed a ratings system so that you can see our level of confidence in the research that we have used as a basis for our recommendations. This is based on Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine – Level of Evidence, March 2009* and has been modified by myDNA to apply for genetic tests.

Level	Causation and treatment
★★★★★	Systematic review of multiple RCT (meta-analysis) Systematic review of meta-analyses Single RCT (randomised controlled trial) with narrow confidence intervals
★★★★	Meta-analysis of cohort studies Prospective cohort with 80% follow up Single RCT not in 5 Good quality ecological research Genome-wide association studies
★★★	Multiple case control studies Meta-analysis of case control Follow up cohort <80% Cross sectional studies >1000 people Case control good quality
★★	Single case control not in 3 Case-series Cross sectional <1000 people
★	Single case report Expert opinion Biochemistry First principle Animal/bacteria analogy

*http://www.cebm.net/oxford-centre-evidence-based-medicine-levels-evidence-march-2009/