Gender Differences in Alcohol Metabolizing Hepatic Enzyme Genotypes in Korean Patients with Alcohol Dependence.
- Author:
Sung Gon KIM
1
;
Cheol Min KIM
;
Duk Ki LEE
;
In Bok HWANG
;
Hyun Sook LEE
;
Seong Yeon KIM
;
Eun Sook JUN
;
Young Sang SONG
;
Je Min PARK
;
Byeong Moo CHOE
;
Myung Jung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea. sungkim@pusan.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Alcohol dependence;
ADH2;
ALDH2;
Genotype;
Gender difference
- MeSH:
Alcoholism*;
DNA;
Epidemiologic Studies;
Female;
Genotype*;
Hand;
Humans;
Male
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2005;44(2):221-231
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: There are a number of preceding epidemiological studies reporting gender differences in the genetic etiology of alcohol dependence. The author investigated gender difference in the frequencies of ADH2 and ALDH2 genoypes between the patients with alcohol dependence and normal control. METHODS: The subjects were 141 alcohol dependent patients (104 males, 37 females) and 138 normal control (79 males, 59 females). The frequencies of 1/1 and 1/2+2/2 (2+ afterward) genotypes for ADH2 and ALDH2 were investigated in male and female between alcohol dependence and normal control group. DNA was extracted from WBC in peripheral venous blood and PCR-RFLP method was used out for genotyping. RESULTS: First, the frequency of ADH2 1/1 genotype was significantly higher in alcohol dependent patients than normal control in both genders. Second, while there was no gender difference in the frequency of ADH2 1/1 genotype in normal controls, in the patient group however, the frequency was significantly higher in females than males. Third, in male subjects with alcohol dependence, the frequency of ALDH2 1/1 genotype was significantly higher than in male normal control subjects. On the other hand, in female subjects with alcohol dependence, the frequency of ALDH2 2+ genotype was significantly higher than in female normal control subjects. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that while the risk of alcohol dependence is predominantly affected by ALDH2 1/1 genotype in male, the female ADH2 1/1 genotype is mainly associated with the risk of alcohol dependence. This means that there are gender differences in the genetic etiology of alcohol dependence.
