Genetic Association between Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) Variation and High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) Among Non-Drinkers in Two Large Population Samples in Japan

Abstract

Aim:Moderate alcohol consumption appears to confer some protection against coronary heart disease, which is related to an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The genotype of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is closely related to alcohol metabolism but a relationship between ALDH2 genotypes and HDL-C levels has not been proven. We undertook a large-scale correlation study between HDL-C levels and ALDH2 genotype among Japanese non-drinkers to investigate the possibility that HDL-C levels could be associated with ALDH2 genotype.
Methods:We examined a population-based sample of Japanese subjects who do not consume alcohol (n=1,736) to investigate the relationship between ALDH2 genotypes and lipid or lipoprotein concentrations in serum. We also investigated whether an association between ALDH2 genotype and HDL-C levels might be found in another Japanese sample.
Results:In an independent population of non-drinkers from a different geographical region of Japan, HDL-C levels were associated with the same ALDH2 genotypes.
Conclusions:The results of the present study suggested that genetic variation in the ALDH2 gene can influence HDL-C levels, independent of alcohol consumption.