A study of 326 Japanese men and women found that those who had a genetic mutation that inactivated the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) were more susceptible to hangovers than those with active ALDH enzymes. The subjects with the mutation got hangovers even when they drank significantly less than those with the normal variant of the enzyme.

ALDH is responsible for eliminating the alcohol metabolite acetaldehyde, a buildup of which can trigger hangover symptoms.

The research was reported in the July 2005 issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

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