Association between ALDH2 Variant and Alcohol Dependence in South Indian Population.

Abstract

Background: Alcohol dependence (AD) poses a serious medical problem and significant public health issue contributing to morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The aim of the study is to test the association of rs698 (ADH1C) and rs671(ALDH2) with the risk of alcohol dependence and to further assess the influence of environmental factors on altering the genetic susceptibility to alcoholism in south Indian Tamilian population.Methods& Results: A total of 150 alcohol dependent cases aged between 18- and 65-years fulfilling DSM-V criteria were recruited from de addiction center. Subjects in control group (n=150) had history of alcohol intake with AUDIT score less than 8. The alleles were genotyped using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays by quantitative PCR. Association with alcohol dependence was evaluated with various genetic models using chi-square test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the effect of covariates. The dominant (OR=0.5811,95% CI: 0.372-0.9224, p<0.01) and allelic genetic model (OR=0.6228,95% CI: 0.4328-0.9009, p<0.01) of ALDH2, rs671 between cases and controls showed a significant association of the genetic variant with AD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed education level, family history, marital status were significantly associated with AD but there was no association between rs671 genotypes in the presence of these co-variates.Conclusions: Genetic factors play an important role in alcohol dependence. Combined analysis of functional genetic variants and environmental factors is warranted in future studies.