Gamma-glutamyltransferase is associated with incident vascular events independently of alcohol intake: analysis of the British Women's Heart and Health Study and Meta-Analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) with incident CHD and stroke [corrected] GGT [corrected] is a marker of alcohol intake but may also reflect oxidative stress and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is the enzyme most closely associated with liver fat content.


RESULTS
Associations of GGT and ALT with incident CHD, stroke, and a combined outcome of CHD or stroke were examined in the British Women's Heart and Health study (n=2961), and a meta-analysis of population based studies examining these associations was performed. In pooled analyses of fully adjusted results of 10 prospective studies, a change of 1 U/L of GGT was associated with a HR=1.20 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.40) for CHD; a HR=1.54 (95% CI: 1.20, 2.00) for stroke; and HR=1.34 (95% CI: 1.22, 1.48) for CHD or stroke. Heterogeneity was substantially decreased when 2 studies in Asian populations were excluded. In a subgroup of nondrinkers results were similar to the main analysis. Meta analyses of the only 2 studies that examined the association of ALT with incident cardiovascular events found a HR=1.18, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.41) for CHD and a HR=1.10 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.36) for CHD or stroke (combined).


CONCLUSIONS
GGT is associated with incident vascular events independently of alcohol intake. The mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear and require future study.
Fraser
Abigail
A
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Rd, Bristol BS8 2PR, UK. Abigail.Fraser@bristol.ac.uk
Harris
Ross
R
Sattar
Naveed
N
Ebrahim
Shah
S
Smith
George Davey
GD
Lawlor
D A
DA
D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase