Allele frequency differences of cytochrome P450 polymorphisms in a sample of New Zealand Maori

Aims: To determine the prevalence of functional alleles for drug metabolising genes in a sample of Māori and compare allele frequencies with Caucasians estimates. Procedures: DNA from 60 Māori volunteers was genotyped for cytochrome P450 polymorphisms - CYP2A6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6 - and allele frequencies calculated and compared with Caucasian estimates. Results: Absolute allele frequency differences between Maori and Caucasian groups ranged from 1% to l6% for the polymorphisms tested. Conclusions: Functional allele frequencies of drug metabolising genes differed between Maori and European groups warranting larger general population surveys. These findings may also bear thinking about when conducting pharmacogenetic studies or clinical trials in New Zealand cohorts because patients with Māori ancestry may respond differently to certain medicines based on genotype.