Relationship between Genetic Polymorphisms of Alcohol-metabolizing Enzymes and Changes in Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease Associated with Alcohol Consumption

Abstract

There are large individual variations in the responses of risk factors for coronary heart disease to alcohol consumption. To clarify the factors responsible for these individual variations, we studied the relationship between blood pressure, serum lipids, and uric acid and the genetic polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) 2 and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) 2 in alcohol drinkers. We examined 133 male workers who drank >300 g of alcohol per week. Information regarding lifestyle habits was obtained by questionnaire. The ADH2 genotype was determined by PCR and subsequent digestion with MaeIII. The ALDH2 genotype was determined based on amplified product length polymorphisms. When the workers were divided into three groups: the ADH2(1)/2(1), ADH2(1)/2(2), and ADH2(2)/2(2) groups, the mean triglycerides and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase concentrations were significantly higher in the ADH2(2)/2(2) group than in the ADH2(1)/2(1) group. In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the frequencies of individuals whose systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and uric acid values were in the highest one third were significantly higher in the ADH2(2)/2(2) group than in the ADH2(1)/2(1) group. In contrast, no difference was observed between the ALDH2(1)/2(1) and (ALDH2(1)/2(2) + ALDH2(2)/2(2)) groups with regard to the mean value of any variable and to the frequency of individuals with any variable value in the highest one third. Individuals with the ADH2(1)/2(1) genotype might suffer fewer negative effects of drinking.