Genetic Polymorphisms on , and in Young Adults: Lack of Association With Alcohol Consumption.

Risk behaviors for young adults such as alcohol use are associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Patterns of risk behavior may be genetically determined and vary between genders. Previous studies in both young adults and heavy drinking adult samples have demonstrated that some genotypes, such as A118G, Val158Met and Taq1A and C52IT, may predict addictive behaviors including alcohol consumption and impulsivity, although results have been mixed. This study aimed to investigate the predictive relationship of these four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) prospectively on student patterns of drinking using a micro-longitudinal daily diary design in a sample of 628 young adults ages 18-25 of predominantly of European ethnicity. Linear mixed models were used to examine the effect of SNPs on the number of drinks per drinking session with gender as a moderating variable. There were no main effects for genotype on alcohol consumption, nor for gender × genotype for any of the SNPs. There was a trend for an effect of the Taq1A on the number of drinks per drinking day and for the interaction of gender and Taq1A on the number of drinks per drinking day. These findings suggest that the Taq1A A118G, C521T, or Val158Met polymorphisms, are not associated with alcohol consumption in young adults, although there may be a relationship between Taq1A and alcohol consumption in young adult males.