ALDH - Aldehyde Dehydrogenase

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Enzyme group, which causes the further oxidation of acetaldehyde in the liver to acetic acid. Similiar to the ADH, ALDH shows the feature of polymorphism, whereby the ALDH2-isoenzyme plays a special role, since it is inactive in some Asian populations (enzyme defect). As consequence, this group of peoples stands only small quantities of alcohol, whereby a so-called acetaldehyde syndrome occurs. The same appearance can be caused also artificially by medicaments like Antabus® which is taken in order to prevent a relapse by already dry alcoholics.