Childhood adversity moderates the effect of ADH1B on risk for alcohol-related phenotypes in Jewish Israeli drinkers

Jacquelyn L. Meyers, Dvora Shmulewitz, Melanie M. Wall, Katherine M. Keyes, Efrat Aharonovich, Baruch Spivak, Abraham Weizman, Amos Frisch, Howard J. Edenberg, Joel Gelernter, Bridget F. Grant, Deborah Hasin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Childhood adversity and genetic variant ADH1B-rs1229984 have each been shown to influence heavy alcohol consumption and disorders. However, little is known about how these factors jointly influence these outcomes. We assessed the main and additive interactive effects of childhood adversity (abuse, neglect and parental divorce) and the ADH1B-rs1229984 on the quantitative phenotypes 'maximum drinks in a day' (Maxdrinks) and DSM-Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) severity, adjusting for demographic variables, in an Israeli sample of adult household residents (n=1143) evaluated between 2007 and 2009. Childhood adversity and absence of the protective ADH1B-rs1229984 A allele were associated with greater mean Maxdrinks (mean differences: 1.50; 1.13, respectively) and AUD severity (mean ratios: 0.71; 0.27, respectively). In addition, childhood adversity moderated the ADH1B-rs1229984 effect on Maxdrinks (P<0.01) and AUD severity (P<0.05), in that there was a stronger effect of ADH1B-rs1229984 genotype on Maxdrinks and AUD severity among those who had experienced childhood adversity compared with those who had not. ADH1B-rs1229984 impacts alcohol metabolism. Therefore, among those at risk for greater consumption, e.g. those who experienced childhood adversity, ADH1B-rs1229984 appears to have a stronger effect on alcohol consumption and consequently on risk for AUD symptom severity. Evidence for the interaction of genetic vulnerability and early life adversity on alcohol-related phenotypes provides further insight into the complex relationships between genetic and environmental risk factors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)205-214
Number of pages10
JournalAddiction Biology
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2015

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of HealthT32DA031099
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismK01AA021511

    Keywords

    • ADH1B
    • Israel
    • alcohol consumption
    • alcohol use disorders
    • childhood adversity
    • interaction

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Childhood adversity moderates the effect of ADH1B on risk for alcohol-related phenotypes in Jewish Israeli drinkers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this