Association of a genetic polymorphism of the alcohol-metabolizing enzyme ADH1C with alcohol dependence: results of a case-control study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Alcohol dependence causes serious problems which may be influenced by genetic factors associated with alcohol metabolism. The aim was to investigate the allelic and genotypic difference in distribution of a polymorphism in alcohol dehydrogenase 1C gene (ADH1C) between alcohol-dependent individuals and controls, and to examine if these genotypes were associated with the age at which the patient became alcohol-dependent.

METHODS:

We conducted a case-control study including 90 alcohol-dependent cases and 100 historic controls. The genomic DNA was isolated and the alleles were analyzed with an RFLP.

RESULTS:

The ADH1C*1 allele frequencies were 0.89 (95% CI 0.84-0.91) in controls and 0.68 (95% CI 0.61-0.74) in alcohol-dependent patients. The frequencies of the ADH1C*2 allele were 0.11 (95% CI 0.07-0.14) and 0.32 (95% CI 0.25-0.38) among controls and alcohol-dependent patients, respectively (p < 0.0001). The ADH1C*1/*1 genotype frequency was significantly higher in the control group (77%) compared to that of the alcohol-dependents (51%, p < 0.0001). The ADH1C*1/*2 genotype frequency was significantly lower in the control group (23%) compared to that of the alcohol-dependents (42%, p < 0.0001). We obtained no statistically significant difference among the ADH1C genotype groups regarding age.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that a significantly higher presence of ADH1C*2 allele is associated with alcohol dependence in a Turkish population. Studies with other related polymorphisms are needed to more precisely estimate the association of alcohol dependence with ADH1C.

• Authors: Selim Kortunay, Aylin Köseler, Fatma Ozdemir, Erol Ömer Atalay
• Journal: European addiction research (Eur Addict Res) Vol. 18 Issue 4 Pg. 161-6 ( 2012) ISSN: 1421-9891 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 22414625 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• ADH1C protein, human
• Alcohol Dehydrogenase

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Alcohol Dehydrogenase (genetics)
• Alcoholism (genetics)
• Case-Control Studies
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Female
• Gene Frequency
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Reference Values
• Young Adult