POPULATION-DISTRIBUTION OF ALCOHOL-DEHYDROGENASE CLASS-I IN FRANCE - COMPARISON WITH OTHER POPULATIONS, AND DISTRIBUTION WITH RESPECT TO GENDER AND AGE

In Caucasians, a genetic polymorphism is known for some alcohol dehydr ogenase (ADH) systems (beta and gamma). Knowledge of population freque ncies of the beta and gamma hepatic isozyme variants in France is a pr erequisite to understanding any role this genetic variation might play in determining the risk of alcohol-related diseases. For the present study, the ADH phenotypes of 115 French Caucasian control subjects, co nsisting of 64 men and 51 women, were studied. The beta 2 subunit was found to have a very low frequency. The relative frequencies of ADH ga mma subunits observed in French Caucasians were found to be in good ag reement with those already observed in other Caucasian populations. Wh en gender and age were taken into account, a particular group correspo nding to young men (age <50 years) was characterized by a manifest dis cordance with the comparable female population.