Recently, a meta-analysis of published studies on different populations, using varying definitions of alcohol dependence, abuse or alcohol-related diseases, reported a very robust association with rs1229984 in Asian populations5 (47 studies, p value = 7 × 10−42). However, the results for alcohol dependence in European subjects were modest (19 studies, p value = 0.002) and African American subjects were not studied. This His48 allele has a low frequency in populations of European or African descent.
