[Rationale for alcohol consumption and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase genotype in the native male population of...

To study the alcohol consumption pattern and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) genotype, a random sample consisting of 170 native males (Chukchee and the Eskimo), residents of 4 Chukotka settlements, was studied. According to interviews, most residents (68%) consumed alcohol once or twice a month; however during an alcohol uptake episode they consumed very high (intoxicating) doses exceeding 150 g of pure alcohol. The rates of control loss, alcohol amnesia and withdrawal syndrome were more than 50%. Twelve per cent reported inconsistent facial flushing after drinking and positive ethanol-patch test was found only in 2% of cases. Direct genotyping, using specific oligonucleotide probes, showed no atypical oriental type ALDH2. The normal genotype (ALDH2-1) was present in all the examinees from Chukotka natives (n = 87). These results explain the ability of Chukotka natives to consume high amounts of alcohol per occasion and they are in disagreement with the hypothesis that the drinking pattern among the natives is explained by specific features of alcohol-metabolising enzymes.