Association between alcohol and cardiovascular disease: Mendelian randomisation analysis based on individual participant data
- PMID: 25011450
- PMCID: PMC4091648
- DOI: 10.1136/bmj.g4164
Association between alcohol and cardiovascular disease: Mendelian randomisation analysis based on individual participant data
Abstract
Objective: To use the rs1229984 variant in the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene (ADH1B) as an instrument to investigate the causal role of alcohol in cardiovascular disease.
Design: Mendelian randomisation meta-analysis of 56 epidemiological studies.
Participants: 261 991 individuals of European descent, including 20 259 coronary heart disease cases and 10 164 stroke events. Data were available on ADH1B rs1229984 variant, alcohol phenotypes, and cardiovascular biomarkers.
Main outcome measures: Odds ratio for coronary heart disease and stroke associated with the ADH1B variant in all individuals and by categories of alcohol consumption.
Results: Carriers of the A-allele of ADH1B rs1229984 consumed 17.2% fewer units of alcohol per week (95% confidence interval 15.6% to 18.9%), had a lower prevalence of binge drinking (odds ratio 0.78 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.84)), and had higher abstention (odds ratio 1.27 (1.21 to 1.34)) than non-carriers. Rs1229984 A-allele carriers had lower systolic blood pressure (-0.88 (-1.19 to -0.56) mm Hg), interleukin-6 levels (-5.2% (-7.8 to -2.4%)), waist circumference (-0.3 (-0.6 to -0.1) cm), and body mass index (-0.17 (-0.24 to -0.10) kg/m(2)). Rs1229984 A-allele carriers had lower odds of coronary heart disease (odds ratio 0.90 (0.84 to 0.96)). The protective association of the ADH1B rs1229984 A-allele variant remained the same across all categories of alcohol consumption (P=0.83 for heterogeneity). Although no association of rs1229984 was identified with the combined subtypes of stroke, carriers of the A-allele had lower odds of ischaemic stroke (odds ratio 0.83 (0.72 to 0.95)).
Conclusions: Individuals with a genetic variant associated with non-drinking and lower alcohol consumption had a more favourable cardiovascular profile and a reduced risk of coronary heart disease than those without the genetic variant. This suggests that reduction of alcohol consumption, even for light to moderate drinkers, is beneficial for cardiovascular health.
© Holmes et al 2014.
Conflict of interest statement
Competing interests: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at
Figures
Comment in
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Alcohol and cardiovascular disease.BMJ. 2014 Jul 10;349:g4334. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g4334. BMJ. 2014. PMID: 25011451 No abstract available.
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Risk factors. Reducing alcohol intake improves heart health.Nat Rev Cardiol. 2014 Sep;11(9):495. doi: 10.1038/nrcardio.2014.106. Epub 2014 Jul 29. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2014. PMID: 25072907 No abstract available.
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Mendelian randomisation meta-analysis sheds doubt on protective associations between 'moderate' alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease.Evid Based Med. 2015 Feb;20(1):38. doi: 10.1136/ebmed-2014-110086. Epub 2014 Nov 4. Evid Based Med. 2015. PMID: 25371403 No abstract available.
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[Alcohol in any amount harms the heart].MMW Fortschr Med. 2014 Oct 23;156(18):32. MMW Fortschr Med. 2014. PMID: 25464536 German. No abstract available.
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