Re: Is it true that the liver produces an enzyme named 'P-450' that metabolizes

Hi Susan

the cytochrome P450 system is 
important for the synthesis of certain 
hormones, bile (used for digestion) 
and for detoxification of foreign 
substances (like barbituates). The 
actions of the P450 system can be 
deterimental too, however, as many 
carcinogens (cancer causing agents) 
are activated by P450.

As for alcohol and the connection to 
native americans, sorry, but I don't 
know!

Alexander Craig adds:

Alcoholism among native Americans is probably not related to their lack
of cytochrome P450. In pure biological terms (apart from sociological
issues) the cause might be attributable to either genetic variability in
an allele for the dopamine receptor D2 (and other genes that have been
implicated in the so called reward deficiency syndrome - see ref. 1) or
in a metabolic deficiency in the alcohol degrading enzymes (alcohol and
aldehyde dehydrogenase) though the latter would more likely only affect
the effect of alcohol on one's physiology.
I wasn't able to find a lot of literature specifically on the topic of
ethnicity and alcoholism but one article worth mentioning might be ref.2
& 3.

References:
1. Blum K, Cull JG, Braverman ER, and Comings DE: Reward Deficiency
Syndrome.  American Scientist, Vol. 84, pp. 132 - 145.
2. Blane HT. Recent developments in alcoholism:ethnicity.
   Recent Dev Alcohol. 1993; 11: 109-122.
3.Heath DB. Recent developments in alcoholism:anthropology.
     Recent Dev Alcohol. 1993; 11: 29-43.

Sincerely,
  A. Craig