Ethnic differences in level of response to alcohol between Chinese Americans and Korean Americans.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Koreans have higher rates of alcohol-use disorders and family history of alcoholism, compared with Chinese. These differences likely reflect both environmental and genetic influences. One genetically influenced characteristic that may contribute to these ethnic differences is level of response to alcohol. Variant alleles of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1B) genes are prevalent in individuals of Asian heritage and have been associated with an increased level of response to alcohol and a decreased risk for alcohol dependence. Additionally, a low level of response to alcohol is more common in individuals with a first-degree family history of alcoholism and is predictive of increased risk for this disorder. It also is possible that sociocultural

SUBMITTER: Duranceaux NC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2739570 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature