Alcoholic health care?

The most favorable argument on alcohol consumption is that alcoholic beverages have positive effects on health such as its antioxidant capacity, lipid profile, and coagulation system. Several studies have proven that moderate alcohol consumption reduces cardiovascular diseases, for example, increasing high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) facilitates a cardio-protective effect. However, Prof. Holmes, Michael V. suggests that a reduction of alcohol consumption shows a benefit for cardiovascular disease for non-drinkers as well as moderate drinkers. He found that alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene (ADH1B) was a cardiovascular biomarker of alcohol consumption. ADH1B variant mainly activates due to alcohol consumption. In addition, rs1229984, a non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene, transcribes the ADH1B enzyme which is primarily responsible for alcohol metabolism. Therefore, its activation level is directly proportional to alcohol consumption.

This longitudinal study observed individuals who drink alcohol. This implicated that light to moderate drinkers increased the odds for coronary heart disease development, in terms of the activation level of rs1229984 A-allele compared to non-drinkers. Non-drinkers almost displayed null odds of the allele while light to moderate drinkers showed an elevating tendency. They showed lesser odds than heavy drinkers, but the chance of getting a coronary heart disease was still in the process. As a results, reduction of alcohol consumption lowers the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, even for light to moderate drinkers. This finding challenges the social acceptance on alcohol consumption. Moreover, this argues against cardiovascular benefit on moderate alcohol consumption.

The study selected a specific gene allele as a biomarker which has low prevalence (average carriage of rs1229984 A-alleles is 7% out of the sample). This finding would be limited to a specific group of people who carry the allele only. The author also points out the limitation that the study have done for Europeans. Genetic variance and cultural difference (drinking habits or favorable beverages etc.) from Europe would bring different results compared to worldwide habits.

 Abstract

Reference

Holmes, M. V., Dale, C. E., Zuccolo, L., Silverwood, R. J., Guo, Y., Ye, Z., Casas, J. P. 
             (2014). Association between alcohol and cardiovascular disease: Mendelian 
             randomisation analysis based on individual participant data. Front Neurosci.