Association of a functional single-nucleotide polymorphism in the ALDH2 gene with essential hypertension depends on drinking behavior in a Chinese Han population

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is an important environmental factor in the development of essential hypertension (EH) and cardiovascular disease. Several epidemiological studies have investigated the association between hypertension and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) genotype, although the results are inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible effect of drinking behavior on the ALDH2-EH relationship in a Chinese Han population. A total of 1098 unrelated individuals with EH and 1021 controls of Chinese Han ethnicity were included. We evaluated the effect of three tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms on blood pressure (BP) and serum lipid level by blood chemical assays. The major findings were that rs671 guanine/adenine genotype (odds ratio (OR)=0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28-0.74) and A allele (OR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.36-0.85) were associated with a decreased risk of EH in drinkers. In addition, the rs671 genotype influenced BP, triglyceride (TG) level and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level in the same drinking-dependent pattern. Drinkers who carried the A allele displayed lower systolic BP (β=-0.16, P=0.001) and TG level (β=-0.14, P=0.004) and higher HDL-C level (β=0.11, P=0.019), but this association was not observed in nondrinkers. In summary, we present evidence for the association of rs671 in the ALDH2 gene with susceptibility to EH, increase in BP and disturbance of serum lipid profiles in drinkers, but not in nondrinkers. Further functional research is warranted to elucidate the role of rs671 in the variation of BP and lipid levels in EH.

Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Prostatic Hyperplasia According to Facial Flushing After Drinking in Korean Men

“…A recent study reported that ALDH2 is related to chronic age-associated diseases such as coronary artery disease and hypertension 11). Seok et al,12) conducted a study on the relationship between missense ALDH2 (SNP: Glu504Lys) and benign prostatic hyperplasia in Koreans.…”

Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species at the Heart of the Matter

“…133 The mutation behaves in an over-dominant fashion so that ALDH2 enzymatic activity is reduced to 20-35% of wild type enzyme in heterozygous individuals. Recent genome-wide association and epidemiological studies provide strong evidence linking ALDH2*2 genotype with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), 134,135 MI, 136 hypertension, 137 dyslipidemia, 138 and hyperglycemia. 139 The elevated health risk of cardiovascular diseases that many East Asians may face due to the ALDH2*2 further demonstrates the relevance of ALDH2 as a cardiovascular therapeutic target.…”

The Glu504Lys Polymorphism of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Contributes to Development of Coronary Artery Disease

“…Some studies found that the mechanism is closely related to decreased alcohol consumption. After adjusting for alcohol consumption, the *504Lys allele and hypertension were no longer correlated (Takagi et al 2001;Amamoto et al 2002;Wang et al 2013). However, other studies have demonstrated that the mechanism is not related to alcohol consumption (Hui et al 2007;Hasi et al 2011).…”