Volume 3 Issue 3 | 2026 | View PDF
Paper Id: IJMSM-V3I3P107
doi: 10.71141/30485037/V3I3P107

Detection of the Human ALDH2 Gene Polymorphism Related to Alcohol Metabolism Capacity Using Allele-Specific PCR: A Pilot Study in Vietnam

Mai Van Phong, Vu Phuong Thao, Nguyen Thao Vy, Bui Hai Trung, Nguyen Phu Xuan Nghi, Thai Hong Quynh Chi

Citation:
Mai Van Phong, Vu Phuong Thao, Nguyen Thao Vy, Bui Hai Trung, Nguyen Phu Xuan Nghi, Thai Hong Quynh Chi, "Detection of the Human ALDH2 Gene Polymorphism Related to Alcohol Metabolism Capacity Using Allele-Specific PCR: A Pilot Study in Vietnam" International Journal of Multidisciplinary on Science and Management, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 86-94, 2026.

Abstract:
Human alcohol metabolism is heavily dictated by aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), an essential mitochondrial enzyme responsible for oxidizing toxic acetaldehyde into non-toxic acetate. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 12 of the ALDH2 gene (G-to-A transition replacing Glutamic acid with Lysine at position 487) leads to the mutant ALDH2*2 allele, causing acetaldehyde accumulation, facial flushing, and elevated gastrointestinal cancer risks. This study investigates human alcohol metabolism capacity and alcohol-related physiological responses in the Vietnamese population through a dual approach: a sociological survey of alcohol consumption patterns and biological detection of the ALDH2 gene using Allele-Specific PCR (AS-PCR). A survey conducted among university students revealed significant variations in alcohol tolerance and identified facial flushing (77.3%) and nausea (45.5%) as primary intoxication symptoms. Genomic DNA was extracted from human hair roots and saliva samples using optimized lysis procedures. AS-PCR primers successfully identified the wild-type (N) and mutant (D) alleles. The findings demonstrate the applicability of low-cost AS-PCR assays for ALDH2 genotyping in Vietnamese laboratories, laying a foundation for public health risk assessment regarding alcohol usage.

Keywords: Alcohol Metabolism, ALDH2, Allele-Specific PCR, Facial Flushing, Genotyping, Vietnamese Population.

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