Alcohol consumption patterns and genotypes determining alcohol tolerance in chilean university students Patrones de consumo y genotipos determinantes de la tolerancia al alcohol: Estudio en estudiantes universitarios de Santiago de Chile

Abstract

© 2015 Sociedad Medica de Santiago. All rights reserved.Background: Alleles involved in inefficient (ADH1B2*2 and ALDH2*2) or efficient (SNP6, ADH4 gene) alcohol metabolism may influence the risk of alcoholism. Alcoholism susceptibility has been classified as protector and risk-dependence phenotypes, associated with inefficient and efficient alcohol genetic metabolizing variants, respectively. Aim: To investigate the possible association between genetic protective and risk-dependence variants and alcohol intake patterns. Material and Methods: Saliva DNA samples were obtained and the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) questionnaire was applied to 210 university students aged between 18 and 25 years old. Results: No statistically significant association between protective or risk-dependence genetic variants and alcohol pattern intake was detected. However, new categories of alcohol intake patterns-not included in the AUDIT questionnaire-were identified. Conclusions: No ass