The Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Gene Is a Risk Factor for Hypertension in Japanese but Does Not Alter the Sensitivity to Pressor Effects of Alcohol: The Suita Study

Excessive alcohol consumption is a potent risk factor for high blood pressure. About half of Japanese show an extremely high sensitivity to alcohol, which is due to a genetic deficiency in an isoenzyme of aldehyde-dehydrogenase with a low Km (ALDH2). It is possible that the effects of alcohol consumption on blood pressure differ according to the ALDH2 genotype. The purpose of the present study was to assess the influence of the ALDH2 genotype on the pressor effects of alcohol. The influence of the ALDH2 genotype on blood pressure was investigated in a large cohort (4, 000 subjects) representing the general population in Japan. The genotype was determined by the TaqMan method. The genotype was significantly associated with alcohol consumption, gamma-GTP level, and HDL cholesterol level in both males and females. The odds ratio for the presence of hypertension for the Glu/Glu genotype in comparison to other genotypes was 1.67 (p