Effects of daily alcohol intake on the blood pressure differ depending on an individualʼs sensitivity to alcohol

Abstract

A repeated heavy alcohol intake could increase the risk of hypertension for Japanese subjects who exhibit skin flushing in response to alcohol consumption. Chronic alcohol intake by subjects with alcohol flushing might bring about a significant increase in blood acetaldehyde levels and cause an additional rise in the blood pressure.

Genetic differences in ethanol metabolizing enzymes and blood pressure in Japanese alcohol consumers

“…Diastolic BP was suggested to be a little higher in the subjects having intact ALDH2, in contrast to the findings of Itoh et al 5 showing a higher BP in those inactive ALDH2. A higher BP in the drinkers with intact ALDH2 has also been observed in a previous study.…”

“…The study of Itoh et al 5 however, showed only an indirect association of ALDH2 genotypes with higher BP in alcohol consumers, and it contradicted the negative findings in the previous two studies. 2,3 In addition, the genetic differences in the other ethanol metabolizing enzymes in Japanese, such as ADH2 and CYP2E1, have not been fully evaluated as related to BP elevation in drinkers, although both of them have been suggested to play a role in the development of alcoholic psychiatric [10][11][12] and liver diseases.…”

“…Once it is accepted that the genotypes of ALDH2 do not exert a large influence on the alcohol and BP relationship in Japanese, the interpretation of the findings of Itoh et al 5 in which drinkers manifesting facial flushing on alcohol consumption showed a higher prevalence of hypertension than those without becomes of great interest. One explanation could be the inconsistency between flushing response and the variant allele of ALDH2*2.…”

“…2 It can be assumed therefore that ALDH2 genotypes may associate with individual differences in sensitivity to alcohol toxicity including the pressor effect. As far as we know, three studies have so far been conducted in Japanese men aiming to clarify the influence of the genetic difference in ALDH2 on the alcohol and blood pressure (BP) relationship, [3][4][5] but two of them showed negative results: one evaluating phenotypes of the subjects using an alcohol-patch test 3 and one by genotypes of the genomic DNA extracted from white blood cells. 4 Only one study conducted by Itoh et al 5 reported findings suggestive of a significant association of the variant allele of ALDH2*2 with a higher BP in alcohol consumers.…”

“…As far as we know, three studies have so far been conducted in Japanese men aiming to clarify the influence of the genetic difference in ALDH2 on the alcohol and blood pressure (BP) relationship, [3][4][5] but two of them showed negative results: one evaluating phenotypes of the subjects using an alcohol-patch test 3 and one by genotypes of the genomic DNA extracted from white blood cells. 4 Only one study conducted by Itoh et al 5 reported findings suggestive of a significant association of the variant allele of ALDH2*2 with a higher BP in alcohol consumers. Namely, a significant association between facial flushing response and the presence of ALDH2*2 allele was observed in 53 individuals, and in a subsequent large-scale study on 1000 or more individuals, drinkers manifesting the flushing response showed a higher prevalence of hypertension than those who did not.…”