Alcohol consumption, TaqIB polymorphism of cholesteryl ester transfer protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and risk of coronary heart disease in men and women
European Heart Journal 2008 29(1):104-112



To investigate whether a common polymorphism in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene modifies the relationship of alcohol intake with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).

Parallel nested case-control studies among women [Nurses’ Health Study (NHS)] and men [Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS)] where 246 women and 259 men who developed incident CHD were matched to controls (1:2) on age and smoking.

The TaqIB variant and alcohol consumption were associated with higher HDL-C, with the most pronounced effects of alcohol among B2 carriers. In the NHS we did not find an inverse association between alcohol and CHD in B2 non-carriers (P trend: 0.5), but did among B2 carriers (P trend <0.01).

Among non-carriers the odds ratio (OR) for CHD among women with an intake of 5–14 g/day was 1.4 (95% CI: 0.6–3.7) compared with non-drinkers, whereas among B2 carriers the OR was 0.4 (0.2–0.8). Results in men were less suggestive of an interaction; corresponding OR’s were 1.9 (0.8–4.5) and 0.9 (0.5–1.6), for B2 non-carriers and carriers, respectively.

The association of alcohol with HDL-C levels was modified by CETP TaqIB2 carrier status, and there was also a suggestion of a gene–environment interaction on the risk of CHD.

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