Electroencephalogram spectral characteristics after alcohol ingestion in Japanese men with aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 genetic variations: Comparison with peripheral changes
Ft. Nishimura et al., Electroencephalogram spectral characteristics after alcohol ingestion in Japanese men with aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 genetic variations: Comparison with peripheral changes, ALC CLIN EX, 25(7), 2001, pp. 1030-1036
Background: Electroencephalographic (EEG) activity induced by alcohol inges
tion may be influenced by individual differences in alcohol metabolism. Spe
cifically, an absence of the low Km isozyme of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH
), found in many Asians, may be related to alterations of EEGs.
Methods: EEG power spectral changes induced by 0.4 ml/kg of alcohol ingesti
on were compared in two groups of Japanese subjects: NN (ALDH2*1/1, n = 19)
and ND (ALDH2*2/1, n = 12). Peripheral changes in heart rate and facial sk
in temperature were evaluated after the same treatment. Blood ethanol,aceta
ldehyde, and catecholamine levels were determined to evaluate mediation of
the ethanol metabolite, acetaldehyde, and its indirect action on EEGs throu
gh the effects on peripheral systems.
Results: As expected, blood acetaldehyde was about 10-fold higher in the ND
subjects compared with the NN subjects during the postingestion period. Et
hanol produced characteristic EEG changes during and after ingestion. The N
D subjects, however, displayed brief periods of decrease in slow or immedia
tely after alcohol ingestion and showed no long-term EEG changes. The EEG c
hanges were parallel to peripheral changes.
Conclusions: The lack of increased EEG power in the ND subjects may be part
ly mediated by a direct action of the high concentration of acetaldehyde in
the central nervous system that penetrates from the peripheral brood. In a
ddition to this direct action of acetaldehyde, an indirect action, such as
feedback from peripheral changes, might prevent the characteristic increase
in alpha and beta power observed in the NN subjects.