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Association of Neuropeptide Y Polymorphism With the Occurrence of Type 1 and Type 2 Alcoholism
Author(s) -
Ilveskoski Erkki,
Kajander Olli A.,
Lehtimäki Terho,
Kunnas Tarja,
Karhunen Pekka J.,
Heinälä Pekka,
Virkkunen Matti,
Alho Hannu
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2001.tb02142.x
Subject(s) - neuropeptide y receptor , genotype , polymorphism (computer science) , alcohol consumption , alcohol , heterozygote advantage , leucine , genetics , medicine , endocrinology , biology , gene , neuropeptide , amino acid , biochemistry , receptor
Background: The susceptibility to alcoholism can be explained partially by genetic factors. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has emerged as one potential factor contributing the development of alcoholism. A recent study indicated that the NPY gene variant producing a leucine‐to‐proline substitution (T to C at position 1128) was associated with 34% higher average alcohol consumption. Methods: The subjects consisted of 122 alcoholics classified as type 1 and type 2 subtypes by psychiatric evaluation. A random sample of 59 social drinkers was used as a control group to compare the distribution of NPY genotypes with those of alcoholics. Results: In a logistical regression model, there was a significantly lower frequency of the leucine(7)/proline(7) heterozygotes among well characterized type 2 alcoholics, compared with the controls (10.8 vs. 24.1%, p = 0.028). Conclusions: We speculate that the genetic polymorphism producing the proline(7) substitution of NPY might not predispose to alcoholism, but indeed retard the transition to alcoholism.