title: Alcohol consumption and flushing response in natives of Chukotka, Siberia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Drinking patterns and flushing response were investigated among indigenous natives of Chukotka, Siberia (162 women, 139 men). The quantification of drinking behavior could be used for comparison with other northern peoples and as a baseline for future intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews, physical examinations and blood tests were performed in the Chukotka region of Siberia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  28% of the men and 4.5% of the women drank at least once per week. High doses per typical drinking occasion, which averaged 177.6 g of pure alcohol in men and 74.3 g in women, were reported; 10.3% of the men and 25.5% of the women reported that they experienced facial flushing after drinking. In most cases more than 20 g of alcohol was necessary to induce flushing, and two-thirds of the flushers were able to continue drinking after flushing began. No significant relationship between flushing and frequency and quantity of drinking and the prevalence of alcohol-related symptoms was found. There was a significant association between flushing by women and reports by them of their parent's flushing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flushing by Chukotka natives and its relationship to drinking behavior is different from Oriental ALDH2-deficient flushing.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Avksentyuk
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kurilovich
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Voevoda
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Nikitin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000172:deficiency; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005483:Flushing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D012800:Siberia
chemical_list: D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase