Genotype announcement to Japanese smokers who attended a health checkup examination

Background: Genotype announcement may be one of the effective methods to induce smoking cessation, but the studies are limited throughout the world. Methods: Subjects were smokers who attended a health checkup examination provided by a local government in Hokkaido, Japan, 2003. Those who agreed to know their genotypes were informed of the genotypes of glutathione S-transferease (GST) M1 present/null, GSTT1 present/null, and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) C609T (Pro187Ser). Results: Out of 143 smokers (92 males and 51 females), 101 individuals participated in the present study. A postal questionnaire one year after the genotype announcement found that 8 persons (6 males and 2 females) of 41 respondents had quitted smoking. Two of 8 quitters stated that they had quitted smoking due to the announcement. There were none who regretted the genotype tests. Conclution: Although the cessation rate, 7.9% (8/101) at least, was not marked, no harmful effects were observed among the respondents.