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. CONCLUSION Although the cessation rate, 7.9% (8/101) at least, was not marked, no harmful effects were observed among the respondents.