Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Ischemic Heart Disease Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Study

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Birth weight and risk of ischemic heart disease: A Mendelian randomization study

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Liver Enzymes and Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Mendelian Randomization Study

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Systematic differences among never, occasional and moderate alcohol users in southern China, and its use in alcohol research: a cross-sectional study

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Alcohol use and gamma-glutamyltransferase using a mendelian randomization design in the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

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Moderate alcohol use and cardiovascular disease from mendelian randomization

Background Observational studies show moderate alcohol use negatively associated with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, healthier attributes among moderate users compared to never users may confound the apparent association. A potentially less biased way to examine the association is Mendelian randomization, using alcohol metabolizing genes which influence alcohol use. Methods We used instrumental variable analysis with aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) genotypes (AA/GA/GG) as instrumental variables for alcohol use to examine the association of alcohol use (10 g ethanol/day) with CVD risk factors (blood pressure, lipids and glucose) and morbidity (self-reported IHD and CVD) among men in the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study. Results ALDH2 genotypes were a credible instrument for alcohol use (F-statistic 74.6). Alcohol was positively associated with HDL-cholesterol (0.05 mmol/L per alcohol unit, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02 to 0.08) and diastolic blood pressure (1.15 mmHg, 95% CI 0.23 to 2.07) but not with systolic blood pressure (1.00 mmHg, 95% CI -0.74 to 2.74), LDL-cholesterol (0.03 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.08), log transformed triglycerides (0.03 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.08) or log transformed fasting glucose (0.01 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.006 to 0.03), self-reported CVD (odds ratio (OR) 0.98, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.27) or self-reported IHD (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.45). Conclusion Low to moderate alcohol use among men had the expected effects on most CVD risk factors but not fasting glucose. Larger studies are needed to confirm the null associations with IHD, CVD and fasting glucose.published_or_final_versio

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2-a potential genetic risk factor for lung function among southern Chinese: Evidence from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

Purpose: In Asia, moderate alcohol users have better lung function. Never users have more inactive aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) alleles (A) potentially generating confounding because inactive alleles may increase acetaldehyde exposure and reduce lung function. Methods: We examined the association of ALDH2 genotypes with percentage predicted lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1second; forced vital capacity) for age, sex, and height among 5641 older Chinese using multivariable linear regression. Results: ALDH2 genotypes were associated with alcohol use and height but not other attributes. Inactive alleles were inversely associated with lung function (percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1second-1.52%, 95% confidence interval [CI],-2.52% to-0.51% for one inactive allele and-2.05%, 95% CI,-3.85% to-0.26% for two inactive alleles compared with two active alleles; and for percentage predicted forced vital capacity-1.25%, 95% CI-2.15% to-0.35% and-1.65%, 95% CI,-3.25% to-0.04%). The association of moderate use with lung function was attenuated after adjusting for ALDH2, in addition to other potential confounders. Conclusions: Previous findings in Chinese may be confounded by ALDH2. High frequency of inactive ALDH2 alleles in East Asia may exacerbate the effect of environmental acetaldehyde exposure on lung function and potentially on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.postprin