@article{ref1,
title="ALDH2*2 and peer drinking in East Asian college students",
journal="American journal of drug and alcohol abuse encompassing all addictive disorders",
year="2017",
author="O'Shea, Taryn and Thomas, Nathaniel and Webb, Bradley Todd and Dick, Danielle M. and Kendler, Kenneth S. and Chartier, Karen G.",
volume="43",
number="6",
pages="678-685",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The ALDH2*2 allele (A-allele) at rs671 is more commonly carried by Asians and is associated with alcohol-related flushing, a strong adverse reaction to alcohol that is protective against drinking. Social factors, such as having friends who binge drink, also contribute to drinking in Asian youth. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: This study examined the interplay between ALDH2*2, peer drinking, and alcohol consumption in college students. We hypothesized that the relationship between ALDH2*2 and standard grams of ethanol per month would vary based on the level of peer drinking. <br><br>METHODS: Subjects (N = 318, 63.25% female) were East Asian college students in the United States who reported drinking alcohol. Data were from the freshman year of a university survey that included a saliva DNA sample. ALDH2*2 status was coded ALDH2*2(+) (A/G and A/A genotypes) and ALDH2*2(-) (G/G genotype). Peer drinking was students' perception of how many of their friends &quot;got drunk&quot;. <br><br>RESULTS: Main effects of ALDH2*2(-) and having more friends who got drunk were associated with greater alcohol consumption. The ALDH2*2 × peer drunkenness interaction showed a stronger positive association with alcohol consumption for ALDH2*2(-) versus ALDH2*2(+) at increasing levels of peer drunkenness. Follow-up comparisons within each peer drunkenness level identified significantly higher alcohol consumption for ALDH2*2(-) compared to ALDH2*2(+) at the all friends got drunk level. <br><br>CONCLUSION: There was evidence of a stronger effect for ALDH2*2(-) compared to ALDH2*2(+) with greater alcohol use when students were more exposed to peer drinking. <br><br>FINDINGS contribute to a growing literature on the interrelationships between genetic influences and more permissive environments for alcohol consumption.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0095-2990",
doi="10.1080/00952990.2017.1314489",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2017.1314489"
}