Low level of response to alcohol as associated with serotonin transporter genotype and high alcohol intake in adolescents.
BACKGROUND
A low level of response to alcohol has been associated with both the genetic constitution of the regulatory region (SLC6A4) of the human serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) transporter (5-HTT) and with future alcohol intake and an increased risk for alcoholism. To date, all studies of relevant polymorphisms have been carried out in populations in the United States.


METHODS
Data were extracted from a subset (n = 243) of a cohort of children who have been observed since birth through evaluation of the family history of alcoholism and psychosocial risk influences. At age 16 years, the response to alcohol was assessed with the Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol (SRE) questionnaire, and the average amount of alcohol intake per month was assessed during the prior 6 months. Additional variables that were measured included the 5-HTT genotype, externalizing behavior, and sociodemographic variables, such as gender and age.


RESULTS
The level of response to alcohol was significantly lower among carriers of two long alleles of the 5-HTT regulatory region compared with carriers of one or two short alleles (Mann-Whitney U = 5225.0, p = .005). In a multiple regression analysis, the level of response to alcohol and externalizing behavior but not psychosocial factors significantly predicted the average amount of alcohol intake per month.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that, independent of the assessed psychosocial variables, the 5-HTT genotype correlated with the level of response to alcohol and predicted alcohol intake among 16-year-old adolescents.
Hinckers
Anne S
AS
Department of Psychosomatics, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Laucht
Manfred
M
Schmidt
Martin H
MH
Mann
Karl F
KF
Schumann
Gunter
G
Schuckit
Marc A
MA
Heinz
Andreas
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D000431:Ethanol