ADH1B rs1229984 and alcohol consumption in non-Hispanic whites, is consistent with previous findings in European Americans.26, 51 However, ADH1B rs1229984 had a relatively smaller effect in our East Asian sample in comparison to other race/ethnicity groups, suggesting that its effect might be attenuated by ALDH2 rs671 in East Asians. Previous studies have found that both genetic polymorphisms ADH1B rs1229984 and ALDH2 rs671 are especially common in Asian populations,52, 53 and that they significantly influence drinking behavior in a synergistic manner.54 To determine whether the relatively small effect of rs1229984 in East Asians was due to the strong effect of ALDH2 rs671, we examined the association of ADH1B rs1229984 among those East Asians who do not carry the non-drinking allele of rs671. The association for rs1229984 was not increased in this sub-group analysis, suggesting that the effect of AHD1B rs1229984 on alcohol consumption in East Asians may not be as important as in other race/ethnicity groups.
