Alcohol consumption, alcohol dehydrogenase and risk of coronary heart disease in the MONICA/KORA-Augsburg cohort 1994/1995-2002.
BACKGROUND
Ample evidence exists for a protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiovascular risk. Recently, genotype of alcohol dehydrogenase 1C (ADH1C) has been reported to modify the impact of alcohol consumption on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). This study investigates whether ADH1C genotype modifies the effect of alcohol consumption on CHD risk and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Analyses of the joint effects of alcohol consumption and ADH1C genotype on CHD risk and HDL cholesterol level using Cox proportional hazards models and linear models.


RESULTS
Participants who were homozygous or heterozygous for the slow metabolizing gamma2-allele and reported alcohol intake of more than 14 g/day showed a 64% [hazard rate ratio (HRR), 0.36; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.16-0.80] reduction in CHD risk. This effect was particularly pronounced in men (HRR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.11-0.67). Women who reported alcohol intake > or =2 g/day showed a nonsignificant risk reduction (HRR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.07-2.17). No significant interactions were found among alcohol consumption, ADH1C genotype, and HDL cholesterol levels.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, alcohol dehydrogenase modifies the effect of alcohol consumption on coronary risk. The results support the protective effect of alcohol consumption on CHD risk and suggest a causal association of alcohol intake and lower CHD risk. The impact of ADH1C on the relationship between alcohol and HDL cholesterol is less clear.
Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Jan
J
Heidrich
Jürgen
J
Wellmann
Angela
A
Döring
Thomas
T
Illig
Ulrich
U
Keil
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D004247:DNA; C420272:ADH1C protein, human; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase