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 association between the protector and risk-dependence phenotypes and patterns of alcohol consumption was detected in this sample of students.