The high prevalence of the ALDH2*2 and ADH1B*2 alleles in a large percentage of Asian subgroups has been studied as a potential protective factors against alcohol abuse, yet some individuals who possess these genes still engage in problematic alcohol use (Wall et al.2001).
Although the ALDH2*2 allele had a significant inhibitory effect on alcohol consumption, hence on drinking problems, the apparent association was not confirmed between ADH2 genotype and overall drinking patterns for either males or females.
The ALDH2 genotypes consistently and strongly affected the alcohol sensitivity, drinking behavior and problem drinking in both the younger and older group.
On the other hand, persons with the heterozygous ALDH2*2 genotype (ALDH2*1/2*2) are at higher risk for developing alcohol abuse-related end-organ damage than those with a homozygous ALDH2*1/2*1 genotype.
The ALDH2*2 allele, detected in nearly half of the subjects, showed an overwhelming protective effect against a high level of alcohol consumption and problem drinking behavior, as determined by the Kurihama Alcoholism Screening Test (KAST).
Among conventional markers of alcohol abuse, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of erythrocytes is prognostic of alcohol-related cancer and its predictivity increases when combined with functional polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1B [rs1229984] and ADH1C [rs698]) and the mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2 [rs671]).
Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase gene polymorphism in alcohol liver cirrhosis and alcohol chronic pancreatitis among Polish individuals.
A mutation in the gene encoding for the liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2-2), present in some Asian populations, lowers or abolishes the activity of this enzyme and results in elevations in blood acetaldehyde upon ethanol consumption, a phenotype that greatly protects against alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
Individuals who carry a low-activity ALDH2 (ALDH2*2) display high blood acetaldehyde levels after ethanol consumption, which leads to dysphoric effects, such as facial flushing, nausea, dizziness, and headache ("Asian alcohol phenotype"), which result in an aversion to alcohol and protection against alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
The ALDH2*2 allele, detected in nearly half of the subjects, showed an overwhelming protective effect against a high level of alcohol consumption and problem drinking behavior, as determined by the Kurihama Alcoholism Screening Test (KAST).
Individuals who carry a low-activity ALDH2 (ALDH2*2) display high blood acetaldehyde levels after ethanol consumption, which leads to dysphoric effects, such as facial flushing, nausea, dizziness, and headache ("Asian alcohol phenotype"), which result in an aversion to alcohol and protection against alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
A mutation in the gene encoding for the liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2-2), present in some Asian populations, lowers or abolishes the activity of this enzyme and results in elevations in blood acetaldehyde upon ethanol consumption, a phenotype that greatly protects against alcohol abuse and alcoholism.