RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Jews have lower rates of alcohol-related problems than other Caucasians. The ADH2*2 allele of the alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (ADH2 ) gene protects against alcoholism in Asians and is found in approximately 20% of Jews. We studied the relationship of ADH2*2 to DSM-IV dependence severity in a random community sample of Israeli Ashkenazis, recent Russian immigrants (also Ashkenazis), and Sephardics. METHODS: Subjects participated in a structured interview that included highly reliable questions on DSM-IV alcohol dependence symptoms. ADH2 genotype was determined for 68 subjects. RESULTS: Recent Russian immigrants had more past and lifetime DSM-IV dependence symptoms. Sephardics had a higher prevalence of ADH2*2 than Ashkenazis. Controlling for group and other potentially confounding factors, ADH2*2 was associated with a lower lifetime DSM-IV alcohol dependence severity, although this differed somewhat within groups. CONCLUSIONS: ADH2*2 protects against dependence severity in Jewish samples. Future work in larger samples should address genetic and environmental factors that affect the relationship of ADH2*2 to alcohol consumption and dependence.
Assuntos
Álcool Desidrogenase/genética , Alcoolismo/genética , Emigração e Imigração/estatística & dados numéricos , Judeus/genética , Polimorfismo Genético/genética , Adulto , Idoso , Alcoolismo/etnologia , Distribuição de Qui-Quadrado , Feminino , Genótipo , Humanos , Israel/epidemiologia , Israel/etnologia , Judeus/estatística & dados numéricos , Modelos Lineares , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise de Regressão , Federação Russa/epidemiologia , Federação Russa/etnologia , Estatísticas não ParamétricasRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Jews drink less than other Caucasians and have a higher prevalence of ADH2*2, an allele of an alcohol dehydrogenase gene that protects against heavy drinking. The relationship of ADH2 polymorphisms to lifetime maximum number of drinks per occasion was investigated in recent Russian immigrants to Israel (exposed to heavier drinking in their country of origin), other Israeli Ashkenazis, and Sephardics. METHOD: Seventy-five randomly sampled Israelis participated in a structured interview. ADH2 was genotyped for 68 subjects. RESULTS: ADH2*2 predicted less drinking; however, associations between ADH2 and drinking appeared to differ across the groups, consistent with differences in environmental exposure to heavy drinking. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support a protective effect for ADH2*2 against heavy drinking in Jewish samples but also suggest the importance of environment. Future work should investigate interactions between genes and the environment in larger samples.
