ALDH2*2 is associated with a decreased likelihood of alcohol-induced blackouts in Asian American college students.
OBJECTIVE
A recent report found the heritability estimate for alcohol-induced blackouts was 53%. The present study was designed to determine whether possession of two specific genetic variations, an aldehyde dehydrogenase ALDH2*2 allele and an alcohol dehydrogenase ADHIB*2 allele, were associated with lower rates of lifetime blackouts.


METHODS
Asian American college students (N=403) of Chinese and Korean descent were genotyped at the ALDH2 and ADHIB loci and assessed for lifetime alcohol-induced blackouts and the maximum number of drinks ever consumed in a 24-hour period.


RESULTS
Participants who had an ALDH2*2 allele had approximately one third the risk of having a lifetime blackout of participants without this allele. Rates of experiencing a lifetime blackout did not significantly differ by ADHIB*2 status. Possessing an ALDH2*2 allele was associated with decreased risk of lifetime blackouts even after controlling for maximum number of drinks ever consumed in a 24-hour period and ethnicity.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest the protective effects of possessing an ALDH2*2 allele include a lowered risk of experiencing alcohol-induced blackouts.
Luczak
Susan E
SE
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA.
Shea
Shoshana H
SH
Hsueh
Annie C
AC
Chang
Jenss
J
Carr
Lucinda G
LG
Wall
Tamara L
TL
D000328:Adult; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D000071396:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial; D000483:Alleles; D001213:Asian / Q000235:genetics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000208:ethnology*; D014495:Universities
C489332:ADH1B protein, human; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase; C096127:ALDH2 protein, human; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; D000071396:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial