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Serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and alcohol use in general population: interaction effect with birth cohort

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Abstract

Rationale and objective

Prevalence of alcohol use is markedly influenced by socioeconomic conditions and is therefore subject to cohort effects. The common genetic variation 5-HTTLPR (serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region) has been related to several aspects of alcohol use and addiction but with mixed results, probably due to different environmental interaction effects. We aimed at assessing whether the association between alcohol use and 5-HTTLPR genotype is subject to cohort effects as birth cohorts may be raised in significantly different environments.

Methods

We used the database of the Estonian Children Personality Behaviour and Health Study (beginning in 1998). Cohorts of initially 9-year-old (recalled at ages 15 and 18) and 15-year-old (recalled at ages 18 and 25) children provided self-reports on their alcohol use in all data collection waves (complete data available n = 1,075).

Results

A significant genotype × gender × cohort interaction effect on the age of consuming the first alcoholic drink was found [F(2, 1,063) = 7.2, p < 0.001]. Females with the s/s genotype in the older cohort were the latest experimenters with alcohol, while the s/s females of younger cohort had tried alcohol earlier than any other group. In males, there was no significant cohort × genotype interaction, but the 5-HTTLPR genotype was associated with alcohol use, the s/s subjects reporting the highest consumption.

Conclusion

Expression of genetic vulnerability to alcohol use is influenced by birth cohort effects. The 5-HTTLPR genotype is associated with alcohol consumption in general population, but the effect depends on gender and birth cohort.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Estonian Ministry of Education and Science (0180027 and 0942706), Estonian Science Foundation (8622), EC FP7 project Aggressotype (FP7-Health-2013-Innovation-1 602805), European Regional Development Fund ERC Program TerVE (ELIKTU 3.2.10002.11-0002), and by the European Social Fund (Primus grant 3–8.2/60). We are grateful to the participants of the ECPBHS and their parents and to the whole ECPBHS study team and to Dr. Tanel Kaart for the advice with statistical analysis.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    Mariliis Vaht & Jaanus Harro

  2. Department of Public Health, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    Liis Merenäkk

  3. Department of Sport Pedagogy and Coaching Science, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    Jarek Mäestu

  4. National Institute for Health Development, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia

    Toomas Veidebaum

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  1. Mariliis Vaht
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  2. Liis Merenäkk
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  4. Toomas Veidebaum
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  5. Jaanus Harro
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Correspondence to Jaanus Harro.

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Vaht, M., Merenäkk, L., Mäestu, J. et al. Serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and alcohol use in general population: interaction effect with birth cohort. Psychopharmacology 231, 2587–2594 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-013-3427-8

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