Association of neuropeptide y polymorphism with the occurrence of type 1 and type 2 alcoholism.
BACKGROUND
The susceptibility to alcoholism can be explained partially by genetic factors. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has emerged as one potential factor contributing the development of alcoholism. A recent study indicated that the NPY gene variant producing a leucine-to-proline substitution (T to C at position 1128) was associated with 34% higher average alcohol consumption.


METHODS
The subjects consisted of 122 alcoholics classified as type 1 and type 2 subtypes by psychiatric evaluation. A random sample of 59 social drinkers was used as a control group to compare the distribution of NPY genotypes with those of alcoholics.


RESULTS
In a logistical regression model, there was a significantly lower frequency of the leucine(7)/proline(7) heterozygotes among well characterized type 2 alcoholics, compared with the controls (10.8 vs. 24.1%, p = 0.028).


CONCLUSIONS
We speculate that the genetic polymorphism producing the proline(7) substitution of NPY might not predispose to alcoholism, but indeed retard the transition to alcoholism.
Ilveskoski
E
E
Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical School, University of Tampere, Helsinki, Finland.
Kajander
O A
OA
Lehtimäki
T
T
Kunnas
T
T
Karhunen
P J
PJ
Heinälä
P
P
Virkkunen
M
M
Alho
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012016:Reference Values
D009478:Neuropeptide Y