Aims: A number of studies about human genetics have shown how inheritance is involved in a predisposition towards alcohol abuse or towards developing alcoholism. Similarly, molecular genetics researchers have drawn attention to the importance of the enzymatic systems that metabolize ethanol and acetaldehyde in the study of alcoholism. These systems are essentially alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), although the roles played by cytochrome P450 2E1 and catalase are notable.
Development: The existence of a functional polymorphism in some of the genes that codify for these enzymes could generate an alteration in the acetaldehyde synthesis interval or lower the extent to which it is later oxidized. A selection of this genetic polymorphism might act in certain human populations, such as the oriental population, as a factor that protects against alcohol abuse and the damage and injuries associated with this drug.
Conclusion: Subjects with a sensitivity to alcohol that is genetically controlled by the abnormality contained in their allele for ALDH2*2 would present some kind of protection against excessive consumption of alcohol. Moreover, subjects with a heterozygotic genotype of ALDH2*2 (ALDH2*1/2*2) would present a greater risk of developing injuries and damage in the organs related to alcohol abuse as compared to subjects who present a homozygotic genotype of ALDH2*1/2*1.