ALDH2 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Genetic variants in or near the CDKAL1, KLF9, GP2, ALDH2, and ITIH4 genes are associated with obesity32,33 and genetic variants in or near the GDAP1, PTF1A, SIX3, ALDH2, and PAX4 genes9,34 are specifically associated with type 2 diabetes in East Asians.