Alcohol consumption, interleukin-6 and apolipoprotein E genotypes, and concentrations of interleukin-6 and serum amyloid P in older adults.
BACKGROUND
Whether alcohol intake is associated with concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and serum amyloid P (SAP) is uncertain.


OBJECTIVE
We determined how alcohol intake and apolipoprotein E (apo E) and IL-6 promoter (IL-6 -174G-->C) polymorphisms interact for concentrations of IL-6 and SAP.


METHODS
In the Cardiovascular Health Study, 2454 older adults reported their intake of beer, wine, and liquor and underwent measurements of circulating IL-6 and SAP.


RESULTS
Alcohol intake was not associated with IL-6 concentrations among apo E4-negative or IL-6C-positive participants but was positively associated among both apo E4-positive and IL-6C-negative participants (P for trend = 0.02 for both). The corresponding interactions on SAP were not significant for alcohol overall but were similar for liquor intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Among older adults free of clinical cardiovascular disease, specific IL-6 promoter and apo E alleles appeared to confer positive associations of alcohol consumption with IL-6 concentrations. Genetic heterogeneity should be considered in understanding the cardiovascular effects of alcohol intake.
Mukamal
Kenneth J
KJ
Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02446, USA. kmukamal@bidmc.harvard.edu
Jenny
Nancy S
NS
Tracy
Russell P
RP
Siscovick
David S
DS
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000378:metabolism*
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D002097:C-Reactive Protein