title: Alcohol sensitivity, alcohol use and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in older Chinese men: The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.
abstract: Compared to other ethnic groups Asians are more likely to be sensitive to alcohol, due to polymorphisms of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes. Although previous studies have found positive association between regular alcohol use and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP), whether this association is modified by alcohol sensitivity has not been clarified. We therefore sought to examined this potential effect modification in a cross-sectional community sample with high prevalence of alcohol sensitivity, using data from 2903 men aged ≥50years recruited during phase 1 of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study. Information on alcohol consumption and sensitivity (facial flushing, palpitation or dizziness after drinking) was obtained by questionnaire and HsCRP was measured by an immunoturbidometric assay. Elevated HsCRP was defined as HsCRP level equal to or higher than 2.81 mg/L(median). Excessive alcohol use was defined as use of ≥210 g ethanol per week. After adjustment for age, educational level, occupation, smoking status, physical activity and history of cardiovascular disease, alcohol use was associated with HsCRP in a dose-response pattern. The risks of elevated HsCRP were higher in those who drank daily (odds ratio (OR) = 1.38 (1.10, 1.72)) or drank excessively (1.57 (1.22, 2.02)), and were even higher in alcohol users with alcohol sensitivity (1.82 (1.24, 2.65) for daily users and 2.34 (1.48, 3.71) for excessive users). Results of this study have showed an important role of alcohol sensitivity in modifying the association between alcohol use and HsCRP level. Reduction of alcohol use should be an important public heath target, particularly among populations with high prevalence of alcohol sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiological Research Centre, Guangzhou No.12 Hospital, Guangzhou, China; Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shao Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiological Research Centre, Guangzhou No.12 Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chao Qiang
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiological Research Centre, Guangzhou No.12 Hospital, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: zwsgzcn@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei Sen
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Unit of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Kar Keung
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Catherine Mary
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Schooling
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiological Research Centre, Guangzhou No.12 Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiological Research Centre, Guangzhou No.12 Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ya Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Unit of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Kin Bong
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Hubert Lam
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Tai Hing
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001771:Blood Banks; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Alcohol sensitivity; Alcohol use; China; High-sensitivity C reactive protein