Abstract

FRANCES, F. et al. Genetic predisposition to alcohol consumption: The case of Alcohol Dehydrogenase 1C. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2007, n.48-49, pp.157-164. ISSN 1988-611X.

Introduction: Alcohol consumption is present in several crimes, being an extenuating or exculpating circumstance. In other cases it represents per se a penal infraction. Several genetic and environmental factors predisposing to alcohol consumption have been identified. Our aim is to study the prevalence of the Ile349Val polymorphism in the Alcohol Dehydrogenase 1C, that generates the gamma 2 isoform (slow metabolizers) and to assess its association with alcohol consumption, and to reflect upon the degree of the dimension of these genetic variants in Legal Medicine. Material and methods: We have genotyped 869 individuals from a Mediterranean Spanish population for the Ile349Val polymorphism in the ADH1C. We estimated the prevalence of this polymorphism and we studied its association with alcohol consumption. Continuous and categorical analysis was carried out. Results: Prevalence of this variant was: 41%Ile/Ile, 44,5%Ile/Val and 14%Val/Val. Women carrying the Val/Val genotype (homozygous for the gamma 2 variant) had greater alcohol consumption than carriers of the gamma 1 (Ile variant); p=0.013. Furthermore, the high alcohol consumption risk was statistically significant (OR 2.59: 95% CI: 1.01-6.65. p=0.048). Conclusions: In our study, the Ile349Val variant in the ADH1C gene is associated with greater risk of having high alcohol consumption in women. This data suggest a future possibility of assessing the genetic profile of alcohol consumption-linked genes in case of individuals involved in committing several acts when drunk, enabling us to potentially clarify the responsibility for this illicit act.

Keywords : Ethanol; Alcoholic Beverages; Gene; Alcohol Dehydrogenase; Crime.

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