S’pore Startup Created Pills To Prevent Asian Flush

For the unacquainted, the Asian Flush might sound like a poker trick or a toilet tradition that dates back to the 1600s.

But it’s actually the term given to a phenomenon observed when someone’s face turns red after drinking alcohol.

It’s called the Asian Flush because it is common among Asians of Chinese, Japanese and Korean descent.

If you’re one of those people who looks like a tomato after drinking a couple of cans of beer, I have some good news for you.

S’pore Startup Created Pills To Prevent Asian Flush

Singaporeans Solomon Poon and Ryan Foo, both 25, might finally have come up with a solution to Asian drinking problems.

The pair have created a supplement which they say can treat the annoying alcohol flush.

Called, DrinkAid, the pill can be taken before or after drinking – or both, depending on how much alcohol is ingested, according to The Straits Times.

The pair came up with the idea for the start-up after they experienced the alcohol flush while attending networking events in their final year of university.

“Our faces would turn red after the first drink, which did not look professional”, Poon said.

They noted that while there are supplements out there to help with hangovers, none target the much-detested flush.

Acetaldehyde is the Culprit

ST reported that the research and development for the product took over a year.

Poon, who is a certified nutritionist, said they came up with a list of ingredients that would break down acetaldehyde – a chemical that forms when your body breaks down alcohol.

Even though acetaldehyde is present in the body for a short period of time, it is highly toxic and a known carcinogen.

According to Poon, around 50% of Asians have a genetic deficiency of an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) that impairs the breakdown of acetaldehyde.

“Since your body cannot produce enough of the enzyme, acetaldehyde builds up to toxic levels quickly – hence the flushing,” he adds.

After sourcing raw ingredients originating in countries like the United States, Japan, and China, the pair themselves tried several variations and ratios of the ingredients, before coming up with the perfect cocktail.

Key ingredients reportedly include ginger extract, black pepper extract, and Japanese raisin tree.

Once they concocted a prototype, it was further developed under SMU’s Business Innovations Generator, and launched over a month ago.

Despite being a new product, the start-up has already received around 2,000 orders from all over the world.

Higher Risk of Cancer

Unfortunately for many Asian Flush sufferers, this may be more than just a cosmetic ailment.

According to AsiaOne, those who frequently experience Asian Flush – meaning they have a genetic inability to break down alcohol or ethanol fully – are more at risk of developing deadly esophageal cancer.

In fact, a person with a single copy of this deficient gene who drinks just two beers a day is up to 10 times more likely to develop esophageal cancer.

So, if you happen to be one who flushes after drinking, please drink in moderation and exercise regularly.

Want to learn more about the Asian Flush? You can read a detailed article here or watch an informational video if you’re lazy instead: