Among individuals of non-European ancestries, certain genetic polymorphisms have been associated with both increased risk for AUD and protective effects against the development of AUD. In a study comparing alcohol dependent (AD) individuals of African ancestry and healthy controls, Ittiwut et al. identified differences in SNPs spanning Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid subtype A Receptor (GABAAR), Gamma 1 gene (GABRG1), and GABAAR, Alpha 2 gene (GABRA2) and their association with alcohol dependence.9 This is of particular importance as the GABAergic system is a known, primary target of alcohol and recent literature has identified GABAA receptor genes, specifically GABRA2, as a candidate gene for AUD.10 Similarly, in this same population, a variant of the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene, ADH1 B*3, along with two variants of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 gene, ALDH1 A1*2 and ALDH1 A1*3, also appear to have protective effects against alcoholism.11 Furthermore, in Southwest Indians, ADH1 B*3 has shown protective effects against alcoholism,12 while in Mexican American men, a variant of the alcohol dehydrogenase 1C gene, ADH1C*2, and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) c2/C alleles are associated with alcohol dependence.13
