Alcohol dehydrogenases are enzymes found in the human liver (and also in the digestive tract) that break down alcohol in the presence of the co-enzyme NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and oxidise it to acetaldehyde. With the help of the enzyme ALDH (aldehyde dehydrogenase), this is detoxified to biologically activated acetic acid and ultimately converted to carbon dioxide and water, as a result of which the concentration of free acetaldehyde in the body normally remains very low. In East Asians, the indigenous peoples of America (Native Americans) and the Aborigines of Australia, ALDH is inactive in around 80% of cases, which is why these ethnic groups can only tolerate small amounts of alcohol. In Europeans, this alcohol intolerance only occurs in around 5% of the population.
![]()
As honorary chairman of the Domäne Wachau, it is the easiest and quickest way for me to access the wein.plus encyclopaedia when I have questions. The certainty of receiving well-founded and up-to-date information here makes it an indispensable guide.
Hans-Georg Schwarz
Ehrenobmann der Domäne Wachau (Wachau)