title: alcohol, smoking, and caffeine in relation to fecundability, with effect modification by NAT2.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Common polymorphisms in the N-acetyltransferase-2 (NAT2) metabolic enzyme determine slow or rapid acetylator phenotypes. We investigated the effects of alcohol, smoking, and caffeine on fecundability, and determined whether the effects were modified by NAT2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three NAT2 polymorphisms were genotyped in 319 women office workers participating in a prospective pregnancy study (1990-1994). Women were ages 20-41 and at risk for pregnancy. Discrete-time survival analysis was used to determine the effects of alcohol, smoking, and caffeine on fecundability and evaluate effect modification by NAT2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We followed 319 women (161 slow acetylators, 158 rapid) for an average of 8 menstrual cycles, resulting in 124 pregnancies. There was no effect of caffeine on fecundability. Drinking ≥1 alcoholic drink per day and current smoking were significantly associated with reduced fecundability, but only among slow acetylators (adjusted fecundability odds ratio [FOR] for smoking = 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.90; adjusted FOR for ≥1 drink per day = 0.20; 0.05-0.92). There was no effect among rapid acetylators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAT2 status significantly modified the effects of alcohol and smoking on fecundability, emphasizing the importance of incorporating genetic and metabolic information in studies of reproductive health. Replication of this study is warranted.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. kirat@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: Kira C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Chanley M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Celia E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: Lauren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Weining
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Malania M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouzyk
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcus
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase; C478900:NAT2 protein, human