title: Genetic association between aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) variation and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) among non-drinkers in two large population samples in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Moderate alcohol consumption appears to confer some protection against coronary heart disease, which is related to an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The genotype of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is closely related to alcohol metabolism but a relationship between ALDH2 genotypes and HDL-C levels has not been proven. We undertook a large-scale correlation study between HDL-C levels and ALDH2 genotype among Japanese non-drinkers to investigate the possibility that HDL-C levels could be associated with ALDH2 genotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined a population-based sample of Japanese subjects who do not consume alcohol (n=1,736) to investigate the relationship between ALDH2 genotypes and lipid or lipoprotein concentrations in serum. We also investigated whether an association between ALDH2 genotype and HDL-C levels might be found in another Japanese sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In an independent population of non-drinkers from a different geographical region of Japan, HDL-C levels were associated with the same ALDH2 genotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study suggested that genetic variation in the ALDH2 gene can influence HDL-C levels, independent of alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Japan. mwada@yacht.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daimon
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iijima
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koyano
authors.forename: Katsushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tajima
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawanami
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Paul N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Sumio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D000071396:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011159:Population Surveillance
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; C096127:ALDH2 protein, human; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; D000071396:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial