MAOA genotype, family relations and sexual abuse in relation to adolescent alcohol consumption.
The aim of the present study was to investigate MAOA gene-environment (G*E) interactions in relation to adolescent alcohol consumption. In the county of Västmanland, Sweden, all 17-18-year-old students were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire and provide a saliva sample during class hours. A total of 2263 students completed the questionnaire (77.4%) and a saliva sample was provided by 2131 participants. Failed MAOA u-variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) genotype analyses and internal non-responses left 851 boys and 735 girls (total n=1586) to be investigated. Alcohol use disorder identification test was used to measure hazardous alcohol consumption. MAOA u-VNTR was used to measure biological risk in interaction with poor family relations and experience of sexual abuse. The model was also adjusted for non-independent socioeconomic variables, separated parents, type of housing and parental unemployment. Results showed that the MAOA u-VNTR, in interaction with psychosocial risk factors, such as the quality of family relations and sexual abuse, was related to high alcohol consumption among adolescents. Girls, carrying the long MAOA u-VNTR variant showed a higher risk of being high alcohol consumers, whereas among boys, the short allele was related to higher alcohol consumption. The present study supports the hypothesis that there is a relation between MAOA u-VNTR and alcohol consumption and that this relation is modulated by environmental factors. Furthermore, the present study also supports the hypothesis that there is a sex difference in the G*E interaction.
Nilsson
Kent W
KW
Centre for Clinical Research, Central Hospital, Västerås, S-721 89 Västerås, Sweden. kent.nilsson@ltv.se
Comasco
Erika
E
Åslund
Cecilia
C
Nordquist
Niklas
N
Leppert
Jerzy
J
Oreland
Lars
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D000483:Alleles; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden
D008995:Monoamine Oxidase