Alcohol abuse genetic factors

Comings, D. E. (1994) Genetic-factors in substance-abuse based on studies of Tourette-syn-drome and ADHD probands and relatives. 1. Drug-abuse. Drug Alcohol. Depend. 35,1-16. 

There are also genetic factors that are protective against alcoholism. Approximately half of Asian populations have a gene that interferes with the metabolism of alcohol, and a toxic metabolite of alcohol accumulates in their body. When they drink alcohol, acetaldehyde accumulates, and they experience the very unpleasant symptoms of rapid heartbeat, flushing, heat, and dropping blood pressure, and they feel intoxicated with very low levels of alcohol in their blood. These individuals rarely, if ever, abuse alcohol. All the genetic factors combined explain about 60% of the risk of alcoholism, with environmental factors contributing about 40% (Schuckit, 2003). 

To date, proteomic investigations into human heart disease have centered on dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). DCM is a disease of unknown etiology, characterized by impaired systolic function resulting in heart failure. Known contributory factors of DCM are viral infections, cardiac-specific autoantibodies, toxic agents, genetic factors, and sustained alcohol abuse. As many as 100 cardiac proteins... 

The clinical course can be unfavourably affected by various risk factors (e.g. race, gender, advanced age, immune status, genetics) as well as by alcohol abuse (275, 337, 363), toxins, coinfections and chemicals. Conversely, the course and prognosis of HBV, HDV and HIV infections as well as of metabolic diseases (e.g. porphyria cutanea tarda, ai-antitrypsin deficiency) can deteriorate as a result of hepatitis C. 

In rural sub-Saharan Africa, there is a kind of beer which is traditionally brewed in iron vats. The daily iron overload can amount to as much as 200 mg with markedly increased iron absorption (T.H. Bothwell et at, 1965). Such a condition is also observed in South Africa among the black population. Their diet consists of porridge fermented in iron pots with an acid pH value (V.R. Gordeuk et al., 1986). In both conditions, absorption of iron is facilitated by various factors, e. g. protein or vitamin C deficiency, alcohol abuse, acidic diet. It has been suggested that such iron overload is triggered by genetic factors. (437)... 

Alcohol abuse Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of cirrhosis. Nevertheless, no more than 40-60% of alcoholics contract the disease. Thus genetic factors must also be involved in the development of alcoholic cirrhosis. Alcohol itself can be a facilitative factor or cofactor. Moreover, so-called additives contained in various alcoholic beverages in widely different quantities may also be of greater importance than has hitherto been assmned. (100, 171, 186) (s. pp 528, 532) (s. fig. 28.13, 28.14)... 

Several risk factors determine the toxic outcome of in utero alcohol exposure. Risk factors suggested include genetic predisposition, marital status, smoking, use of prescribed or over-the-counter drugs and medications, concomitant usage of other drugs of abuse, occupational or environmental exposure to chemicals, socioeconomic status, and adequate nutrition. 

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