PROP taster status and parental history of alcohol dependence

Pelchat and Danowski [Physiol. Behav. 1992;51:1261-1266] reported an association between the ability to taste 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and a parental history of alcoholism. Kranzler et al. [Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 1996a;20:1496-1500] previously failed to replicate these findings in a sample of subjects with only a paternal history of alcohol dependence. The present study was conducted to examine this putative association in a sample of subjects that is heterogeneous with respect to parental alcoholism history. Among the 90 alcohol-dependent subjects studied, the proportion of PROP nontasters was comparable to that observed among nonalcoholics. Analysis revealed no association of parental history with PROP taster status, even after controlling for potential confounding variables. We conclude that no reliable association exists between taste sensitivity to PROP and either a diagnosis of alcohol dependence or a parental history of alcohol dependence.