A review of 5-HT transporter linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism and associations with alcohol use problems and sexual risk behaviors.
Alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors are multidimensional phenomena involving many genetic and environmental factors. 5-HT transporter linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism constitutes an important factor affecting alcohol use problems and risky sexual behaviors. This paper narratively reviews studies on 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and its associations with alcohol use problems and sexual risk behaviors. We searched the electronic databases, PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar for articles using MeSH terms. Relevant articles were reviewed and eligible articles were selected for the study. Many studies have reported a significant but moderate association between 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and alcohol use problems. These studies have implicated the presence of at least one S allele to be associated with significant increases in alcohol use problems. Similarly, some studies associate the S allele with increased sexual risk behaviors. Effective alcohol cessation initiatives and STI/HIV prevention programs should be modified to account for 5-HTTLPR polymorphism before planning interventions; genetic effects could moderate the intervention effect.
Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC V #405, Miami, FL, 33199, USA. mrube001@fiu.edu.
Muni
M
Rubens
Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC V #405, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
Venkataraghavan
V
Ramamoorthy
Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC V #405, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
Jennifer
J
Attonito
Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC V #405, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
Anshul
A
Saxena
Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, 110029, India.
Sandeep
S
Appunni
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Nancy
N
Shehadeh
Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC V #405, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
Jessy G
JG
Dévieux
5-HTTLPR polymorphism; Alcohol cessation programs; Alcohol use problems; Risky sexual behaviors; STI/HIV prevention programs