title: Opposite associations of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and gamma-glutamyltransferase with prevalent coronary heart disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Moderate alcohol consumption may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but excessive alcohol consumption is probably harmful to the heart. We analyzed the association of 2 commonly used markers of alcohol consumption-carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT)-and self-reported alcohol consumption with prevalent CHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included a random sample of 3666 Finnish men aged 25 to 74 years who participated in a risk factor survey in 1997. The cross-sectional association of CDT, GGT, and self-reported drinking with CHD was analyzed by means of logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CDT level was inversely and GGT level positively associated with CHD risk. The odds ratios (adjusted for age, smoking, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure, and body mass index) of CHD among men in the fourth quartiles of CDT and GGT, as compared with the first quartiles, were 0.69 and 1.76, respectively. In a composite risk assessment, men with normal CDT levels (< or =20 U/L) and elevated GGT levels (>80 U/L) had nearly 8-fold adjusted risk of CHD as compared with the men with normal GGT levels and elevated CDT levels. Self-reported alcohol consumption had an inverse association with CHD risk, which disappeared after adjustment for the other risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of CDT and GGT may be indicators of factors behind the curvilinear association between alcohol consumption and CHD risk. The CDT level seems to be related to beneficial biological changes and GGT level with the changes that are detrimental to the cardiovascular system. The inverse association of CDT level with CHD risk will be examined further in a forthcoming prospective study.
authors.affiliation: University of Helsinki, Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. pekka.jousilahti@ktl.fi
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jousilahti
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vartiainen
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alho
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Poikolainen
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sillanaukee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase