ALDH2*2 is Associated With a Decreased Likelihood of Alcohol-Induced Blackouts in Asian American College Students

Objective: A recent report found the heritability estimate for alcohol-induced blackouts was 53%. The present study was designed to determine whether possession of two specific genetic variations, an aldehyde dehydrogenase ALDH2*2 allele and an alcohol dehydrogenase ADH1B*2 allele, were associated with lower rates of lifetime blackouts.Method: Asian American college students (N = 403) of Chinese and Korean descent were genotyped at the ALDH2 and ADH1B loci and assessed for lifetime alcohol-induced blackouts and the maximum number of drinks ever consumed in a 24-hour period.Results: Participants who had an ALDH2*2 allele had approximately one third the risk of having a lifetime blackout of participants without this allele. Rates of experiencing a lifetime blackout did not significantly differ by ADH1B*2 status. Possessing an ALDH2*2 allele was associated with decreased risk of lifetime blackouts even after controlling for maximum number of drinks ever consumed in a 24-hour period and ethnicity. Conclusions...