Distribution of ADH1B genotypes predisposed to enhanced alcohol consumption in the Czech Roma/Gypsy population

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyse the frequencies of rs1229984 genotypes within the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1B) gene in a Gypsies/Roma population and compare them with other populations and with ethanol consumption. Methods: We analysed the ADH1B (rs1229984; Arg47→His; c.143G>A) genotype using the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in two ethnically different groups-Gypsies/Roma (N = 301) and Czechs (N = 300) where one day alcohol consumption was recorded. Results: ADH1B genotype/allelic frequencies did not significantly differ between the populations (p = 0.32). The frequency of minor A allele carriers was slightly higher in Gypsies/Roma (14.7%) than in Czechs (11.9%). The prevalence of subjects reporting alcohol intake on the previous day was non-significantly lower in Gypsies/Roma (10.5% vs. 16.4%), as was the amount of alcohol consumed the day before the examination in ethanol consumers (36.1 ± 18.3 g vs. 43.0 ± 27.2 g). Conclusions: The frequency of rs1229984 genotypes in the ADH1B gene within the Gypsies/Roma population corresponds with frequencies obtained in North India/Central Asia, the putative country of this ethnic origin. Our results suggest that the minority Gypsies/Roma population consume slightly less alcohol than the Czech majority population.

Genomics in Personalized Nutrition: Can You “Eat for Your Genes”?

“…Heterozygous (A/guanine [G]) and/or homozygous A/A carriers of the mutant allele from either SNP have increased rates of ethanol metabolism, reduced rates of alcohol consumption, and reduced risk of alcohol dependence and alcoholism [ 53 ]. This may all be due to increased levels of acetaldehyde and its associated subsequent adverse effects [ 53 , 54 , 55 ]. A variant in the rs1229984 SNP leads to the substitution of the amino acid histidine for arginine at position 48 [ 53 ].…”

Taste Preference-Related Genetic Polymorphisms Modify Alcohol Consumption Behavior of the Hungarian General and Roma Populations

“…Another study analyzing the distribution and combined effect of alcohol metabolism and neurotransmitter gene polymorphisms in the general Hungarian and Roma populations found no over-representation of genetic alterations predisposing to alcohol dependence and lower genetic risk scores in the minority population [ 59 ]. Furthermore, Hubáček et al identified ADH1B rs1229984 genotype frequencies in the Czech Roma population corresponding with frequencies of North India/Central Asia [ 60 ]. On the other hand, alcohol consumption phenotypes in relation to taste preference-related genetic variants in Roma populations in comparison with majority populations have not been investigated before [ 56 ].…”

Increased prevalence of the CVD-associated ANRIL allele in the Roma/Gypsy population in comparison with the majority Czech population

“…Snowball sampling (Hughes et al, 1995) has been used to the Czech Roma/ Gypsy subpopulation (N = 302) selection and quota sampling (Walter, 1989) for recruiting Czech Caucasians/Slavs (N = 298). All subjects were older than 18 years at the time of data and samples collection and theirs ethnicity was based on self-reported information (Adámková et al, 2015, Hubáček et al, 2018.…”