Genetics would be responsible for 50% of the risk of developing the disorder related to the use of alcohol, commonly known as TLUA, according to a recent study unveiled on Tuesday.
According to data from the Éduc’alcool survey, our hereditary baggage explains 50% of the risk of developing certain health problems related to alcohol consumption, such as cancer or liver disease.
“In addition to the frequency of consumption and the amount of alcohol that one is used to drinking, we now know that the genetic code also has a role to play in the susceptibility of its effects on the body”, said Marie-Pierre Dubé, director of the Beaulieu-Saucier Pharmacogenomics Center at the University of Montreal.
However, the study specifies that acquired behaviors from the family and social environment can be the cause of TLUA in the same proportions (50%), depending on the quantity consumed, according to Éduc’alcool.
The organization recommends vigilance and moderation, especially since it is too early to predict consumers who are at high or low risk of developing UALU or those likely to suffer the harmful effects of alcohol on their health because of their genetic background. .
“It is therefore always a good idea to ask questions about family habits with regard to alcohol consumption, to question each person’s state of health and to remain on the lookout for their own consumption habits in order to avoid harm,” said Geneviève Desautels, Executive Director of Éduc’alcool.