Alcohol dependence symptoms and alcohol dehydrogenase 2 polymorphism: Israeli Ashkenazis, Sephardics, and recent Russian immigrants.

Background: Jews have lower rates of alcohol-related problems than other Caucasians. The ADH2*2 allele of the alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (ADH2 ) gene protects against alcoholism in Asians and is found in approximately 20% of Jews. We studied the relationship of ADH2*2 to DSM-IV dependence severity in a random community sample of Israeli Ashkenazis, recent Russian immigrants (also Ashkenazis), and Sephardics.

Alcohol and ADH2 in Israel: Ashkenazis, Sephardics, and recent Russian immigrants.

Objective: Jews drink less than other Caucasians and have a higher prevalence of ADH2*2, an allele of an alcohol dehydrogenase gene that protects against heavy drinking. The relationship of ADH2 polymorphisms to lifetime maximum number of drinks per occasion was investigated in recent Russian immigrants to Israel (exposed to heavier drinking in their country of origin), other Israeli Ashkenazis, and Sephardics.

Method: Seventy-five randomly sampled Israelis participated in a structured interview.