Several conclusions can be drawn from the studies of ADH and ALDH polymorphisms in Trinidadians. First, the presence of ADH1C*1 in Indo-Trinidadians and ADH1B*3 in Afro-Trinidadians is associated with reduced risk for alcoholism. Second, neither Indo- nor Afro-Trinidadians have the ALDH2*2 allele commonly seen in East Asians that causes flushing following alcohol consumption and protects people from developing alcoholism. Third, the presence of at least one copy of a variant in the gene encoding for cytosolic ALDH1A (i.e. ALDH1A1*2) was found to be associated with an increase in alcohol dependence in Indo-Trinidadians. Although considerable gaps in knowledge remain regarding the causes underlying differences in alcoholism prevalence between Indo- and Afro-Trinidadians, these studies together highlight the utility of evaluating risk and protective factors associated with alcohol metabolism in diverse ethnic groups.
