The susceptibility to developing alcohol dependence and significant alcohol-related liver
injury is determined by a number of constitutional, environmental and genetic factors,
although the nature and level of interplay between them remains unclear. The familiality and
heritability of alcohol dependence is well-documented but, to date, no strong candidate
genes conferring increased risk have emerged, although variants in alcohol dehydrogenase
and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase have been shown to confer protection, predominantly in …