Most White people have both major isozymes, while approximately 36% of East Asians have the cytosolic isozyme but not a functional mitochondrial isozyme. A remarkably higher frequency of acute alcohol intoxication among East Asians than among Whites could be related to this absence of a catalytically active form of ALDH2. The increased exposure to acetaldehyde in individuals with the catalytically inactive form may also confer greater susceptibility to many types of cancer.[8]
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^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Yoshida A, Ikawa M, Hsu LC, Tani K (1985). "Molecular abnormality and cDNA cloning of human aldehyde dehydrogenases". Alcohol. 2 (1): 103–6. doi:10.1016/0741-8329(85)90024-2. PMID4015823.
^Seitz HK, Meier P (2007). "The role of acetaldehyde in upper digestive tract cancer in alcoholics". Transl Res. 149 (6): 293–7. doi:10.1016/j.trsl.2006.12.002. PMID17543846.