ALLELE FREQUENCY OF ADH2 AND ALDH2 AMONG BRAZILIANS OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC-GROUPS

We determined the genotypes of the alcohol dehydrogenase (ALDH) and al dehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) loci of different ethnic groups living in Brazil, using saliva DNA amplified by PCR and allele-specific oligonu cleotides. Self-reports of flushing reaction after drinking were also studied. The allelic frequencies of ADH2 and ALDH2 were found to be lo wer than those reported other authors, which might be a result of the admixture origin of the Brazilian population. Variability in facial fl ushing reaction suggests that other factors play a role in the express ion of alcohol-induced flushing. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.