LACK OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TAQI AL ALLELE OF DOPAMINE D2 RECEPTOR GENE AND ALCOHOL-USE DISORDERS IN ATAYAL NATIVES OF TAIWAN

Association studies between the A1 allele of the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene TaqI A polymorphism and alcoholism remain controversial, A recent study from Japan demonstrated that the Al allele is associated with severe alcoholism in the Japanese population, We were interested in knowing if this association also exists in the Atayals of Taiwan, who were found to have a higher prevalence of alcohol-use disorders th an the Han Chinese in Taiwan, Genotype and allele frequencies were det ermined in alcohol-abusing, alcohol-dependent, and nonalcoholic contro l Atayal natives in Taiwan, Al allele frequencies in alcohol-dependent , alcohol-abusing, and normal control Atayals were 0.39, 0.42, and 0.3 9, respectively. No difference in Al allele frequency was found among these three groups, Our data do not support the hypothesis that the Al allele of the TaqI A polymorphism of the DRD2 gene increases suscepti bility to alcohol-use disorders in the Atayals of Taiwan. (C) 1996 Wil ey-Liss, Inc.