title: ADH1B*2 allele is protective against alcoholism but not chronic liver disease in the Hungarian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Standardized death rates from chronic liver diseases (CLDs) in Hungary are much higher than the European Union average. Carrying the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B 48His allele (rs1229984 or ADH1B*2) could decrease the risk of alcoholism, but with persistent drinking may confer a greater risk of CLDs. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of this polymorphism in the Hungarian population and its association with alcohol consumption and with CLDs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 278 cases with diagnosed CLDs and 752 controls without any alterations in liver function, all males aged 45-64, were screened for ADH1B Arg48His polymorphism. ADH1B*2 allele frequencies in controls and cases were 8.31% and 4.50%, respectively (chi(2) = 9.2; P = 0.01). Carrying the ADH1B*2 allele was associated with significantly lower odds ratio (OR) for drinking frequency (OR = 0.63; P = 0.003), the number of positive answers on CAGE (Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilt, Eye-opener) assessment (OR = 0.58; P = 0.005) and a positive CAGE status (OR = 0.55; P = 0.007). There was a significant association between ADH1B*2 and CLDs (OR = 0.50; P = 0.003), but it disappeared after adjusting for CAGE status and scores (OR = 0.67 P = 0.134; OR = 0.67 P = 0.148, respectively) and weakened after adjusting for drinking frequency (OR = 0.61; P = 0.045). Among heavy drinkers the presence of ADH1B*2 did not increase the risk of cirrhosis but there was a significant interaction between genotype and CAGE status (P = 0.003, P = 0.042), with ADH1B*2 conferring reduced risk of CLDs in CAGE negatives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Hungarians, the ADH1B 48His allele reduces the risk of alcoholism, but not the risk of chronic liver disease among heavy drinkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical and Health Science Centre, University of Debrecen, PO Box 9, Debrecen, H-4012 Hungary.
authors.forename: Reka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.forename: Zsuzsa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pocsai
authors.forename: Szilvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fiatal
authors.forename: Gyorgy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szeles
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kardos
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petrovski
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: Roza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adany
mesh_terms: D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D000483:Alleles; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: C489332:ADH1B protein, human; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase