Premium
Prodromus to a Twin Study of Sensitivity to Intoxication and Alcohol Metabolism
Author(s) -
Martin N. G.,
Oakeshott J. G.,
Gibson J. B.,
Wilks A. V.,
Starmer G. A.,
Whitfield J. B.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1981.tb04220.x
Subject(s) - medicine , alcohol , sensitivity (control systems) , alcohol intoxication , medical emergency , injury prevention , poison control , biochemistry , engineering , biology , electronic engineering
As Gibson and Oakeshottl• 2 indicated earlier in this volume, a wide range of biochemical and behavioural responses follow alcohol ingestion and some of these are correlated with such factors as age, sex, body build and drinking experience. However, there is little quantitative information on the relationships amongst the various responses, the extent of individual differ ences in these responses and the genetic and environmental causes of individual differences. In this paper we describe the design and some preliminary results of an investigation of twins intended to provide such information. Our sample includes healthy twins of both sexes resident in Sydney and aged between 18 and 35. Each twin participating attends a testing session beginning about 9.00 am, having eaten a . light, non-fatty breakfast-about an hour earlier. Four sets of variables are measured in an eight hour session; personaliJY and drinking history, parameters of the blood ethanol profile, physio logical responses to ethanol and behavioural responses to the ethanol. Before testing begins a·' 20 nil blood sample and a urine sample are collected; one aliquot of blood is used for typing to establish zygosity and another aliquot of blood and the urine sample are used for quantita tive haematological and biochemical assays, including plasma levels of gamma glutamyl