An investigation of associations between alcohol use disorder and polymorphisms on ALDH2, BDNF, 5-HTTLPR, and MTHFR genes in older Korean men

作者:Shin Sangmoon; Stewart Robert*; Ferri Cleusa P; Kim Jae Min; Shin Il Seon; Kim Sung Wan; Yang Su Jin; Yoon Jin Sang
来源:International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2010, 25(5): 441-448.
DOI:10.1002/gps.2358

摘要

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association of alcohol use disorder (AUD) with four candidate genes in older Korean men: aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2, 1/2), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF, val66met), serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR, s/l), and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR, c.677C > T).
Methods: A community sample of 300 men aged 65 or over were categorized into 68 subjects with AUD and 232 controls according to clinical examinations and DSM-IV criteria. Genotype distributions and allele frequencies were compared.
Results: Men with AUD had significantly higher ALDH2*1 and BDNF met allele frequencies compared to controls (p-values < 0.05). No significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies were found for 5-HTTLPR or MTHFR (p-values > 0.3).
Conclusions: AUD was associated with ALDH2*1 and BDNF met alleles in older Korean men. The first is consistent with previous research and likely to be explained by a protective effect of unpleasant symptoms following alcohol consumption associated with ALDH2*2. The second finding is novel and might be accounted for by BDNF-mediated serotonin or dopamine pathways. However, given the relatively small sample size, the results should be regarded as preliminary and requiring independent replication.

  • 出版日期2010-5