Although two early meta-analyses(Whitfield 1997; Zintzaras et al. 2006) evaluated findings relevant to the gene, the limited data were not sufficient to provide a systematic explanation of the role of the SNP. However, the availability of genotype data from various populations has increased greatly in recent years. Considering the critical role of the gene in alcohol and acetaldehyde metabolism as well as this nonsynonymous SNP’s function in modulating in protein activity, we performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of ADH1C Ile350Val with AD and alcohol abuse, as well as with alcohol-related medical diseases, based on both English and Chinese-language publications. The aim of this meta-analysis was to clarify and confirm the characteristics of this association; compare the results with those from previous studies; and if possible, to provide further evidence for the proposed mechanism of ADH1C Ile350Val.
