Findings for the proposed relationship between ADH1B*2 and increased sensitivity to alcohol have been less consistently supported by data. Some studies of Asians (Chen et al., 1998; Matsuo et al., 2006), Jews (Carr et al., 2002), and non-Jewish Caucasians (Macgregor et al., 2009; Wall et al., 2005) find individuals with ADH1B*2 alleles retrospectively self-report more intense reactions to alcohol (e.g., flushing, headaches, nausea, palpitations, and other alcohol-related symptoms) than participants without an ADH1B*2 allele, but other studies do not relate ADH1B*2 to self-reports of a heightened response to alcohol (Shea et al., 2001; Takeshita et al., 1994). Similarly, an alcohol challenge study of non-Asians (Caucasians and African Americans) supported ADH1B*2 leading to heightened responses to alcohol (Duranceaux et al., 2006), but others alcohol challenge studies of Asians (Peng et al., 2002) and Caucasians (Heath et al., 1999) have not found significant effects of ADH1B*2 on measures of intoxication and flushing. Several studies of Asians using alcohol challenge, retrospective self-report, and skin patch tests have reported ADH1B*2 is associated with increased alcohol-related symptoms (e.g., facial flushing, vomiting), but that this relationship
