Genetic variation of alcohol dehydrogenase type 1C (ADH1C), alcohol consumption, and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors: results from the IMMIDIET study.
INTRODUCTION
Moderate alcohol consumption is protective against cardiovascular disease (CAD). ADHs are major enzymes of alcohol metabolism. A polymorphism in the alcohol dehydrogenases 1C gene (ADH1C) was reportedly associated with the protective effect of alcohol consumption on CAD risk and risk factor levels.


AIMS
The aim of our study was to investigate whether the association of alcohol consumption with metabolic risk factors for CAD is related to ADH1C variants.


METHODS
IMMIDIET is a cross-sectional study of 974 healthy male-female pairs living together, randomly recruited in Belgium, Italy and England. The rs698 ADH1C polymorphism was genotyped. A 1-year recall food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate alcohol intake.


RESULTS
The intake of alcohol did not vary in relation to ADH1C genotypes. BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, HDL or total cholesterol, triglycerides and FVII:ag levels were positively associated with alcohol intake in men (multivariate ANOVA). Regression coefficient for alcohol and BMI or WC was progressively higher in heterozygotes and gamma 2 homozygotes as compared to gamma 1 homozygotes (p=0.006 and p=0.03 for interaction, respectively). No interaction was found for other risk factors. In women, alcohol intake was positively associated with HDL, LDL and FVII:ag levels but no interaction was found between ADH1C polymorphism and any risk factor.


CONCLUSION
Regulation of ADH1C genotype on the association between alcohol consumption, BMI and WC was found in men from different European countries. In men homozygous for the gamma 2 alleles, intake of alcohol was positively associated with both BMI and WC values.