ADH GENOTYPES AND ALCOHOL-USE AND DEPENDENCE IN EUROPEANS

We have tested for effects of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) genotypes on self-reported alcohol consumption and symptoms of alcohol dependence, recorded on three occasions up to 15 years apart, in 377 male and fem ale subjects of European descent. ADH2 genotype had significant effect s on both consumption and dependence in the men, but not in the women. The effects of ADH3 genotype were considerably less than those of ADH 2, but significant results could be demonstrated when the combined gen otypes were considered. The direction of the effects on alcohol consum ption and dependence risk were consistent with reports on Asian subjec ts, and with the in vitro properties of ADH isoenzymes. As with previo us studies on the relationship between ADH type and alcohol use, popul ation stratification cannot be excluded as a contributing factor in th ese results.