title: Distribution Characteristics and Combined Effect of Polymorphisms Affecting Alcohol Consumption Behaviour in the Hungarian General and Roma Populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Harmful alcohol drinking habits, even among Roma children and adolescents, are more common than in the majority population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the genetic susceptibility of Roma to hazardous alcohol consumption compared to the Hungarian general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1273 samples from the population of segregated Hungarian Roma colonies and 2967 samples from the Hungarian general population were genotyped for 25 polymorphisms. Differences in genotype and allele distributions were investigated. Genetic risk scores (GRS) were generated to estimate the joint effect of individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). After unweighted and weighted GRS were calculated the distribution of scores in study populations was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The allele frequencies differed significantly between the study populations for 17 SNPs (P < 0.002), but the genetic alterations that predispose to or protect against harmful alcohol consumption were not overrepresented in the Roma population. The distribution of unweighted GRS in Roma population was left shifted compared to general population (P = 0.0013). The median weighted genetic risk score was lower among the subjects of Roma population compared to the subjects of general population (0.53 vs 0.65, P = 3.33 × 10-27) even after adjustment for confounding factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in alcohol consumption habits between the Hungarian Roma and Hungarian general populations do not appear to be linked to genetic constitution, this behaviour may occur as a result of different cultural values and environmental exposures. Population-based measures to tackle the fundamental drivers of consumption, which take account of cultural acceptability, are needed to reduce harmful alcohol consumption in the Roma population.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Kassai Street 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary.|WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Kassai Street 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary.
authors: Judit
authors: J
authors: Diószegi
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Kassai Street 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary.|WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Kassai Street 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary.
authors: Szilvia
authors: S
authors: Fiatal
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Kassai Street 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary.
authors: Réka
authors: R
authors: Tóth
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Kassai Street 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary.|MTA-DE Public Health Research Group, University of Debrecen, Kassai út 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary.
authors: Ágota
authors: Á
authors: Moravcsik-Kornyicki
authors: Department of Health Visitor Methodology and Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Debrecen, Sóstói Steet 2-4, Nyíregyháza 4400, Hungary.
authors: Zsigmond
authors: Z
authors: Kósa
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Kassai Street 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary.|WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Kassai Street 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary.
authors: János
authors: J
authors: Sándor
authors: Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: McKee
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Kassai Street 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary adany.roza@sph.unideb.hu.|WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Kassai Street 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary.|MTA-DE Public Health Research Group, University of Debrecen, Kassai út 26, Debrecen 4028, Hungary.
authors: Róza
authors: R
authors: Ádány
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D006178:Romani People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*