Association of Alcohol Dehydrogenase 2 and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Genotypes with Fasting Plasma Glucose Levels in Japanese Male and Female Workers
Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on January 23, 2008

The objective was to clarify the effect of alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (ADH2) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) genotypes on the diabetic risk in Japanese workers.

In using two-way analysis of variance to manipulate ADH2 and ALDH2 genotypes and alcohol intake (>70 g/week for men and >35 g/week for women), the FPG level after the adjustment for age, BMI, smoking habit, and another genotype was significantly higher in the men with ADH2^*1/1 genotype than in those with the other genotypes, but there was no significant difference in the FPG level between the men with and without ALDH2^*1/1 genotype.

In contrast, the women with ALDH2^*1/1 genotype had significantly lower FPG levels than those with the other genotypes, but there was no significant difference in the FPG level between the women with and without ADH2^*1/1 genotype. Also, a significant interaction between ethanol intake and ALDH2 genotypes was seen only in the women.

These findings suggest that genotypes of ADH2 and ALDH2 can modify the diabetic risk, irrespective of amounts of alcohol consumed. Also, there may be sex differences in the effect of these enzyme genotypes on glucose metabolism.

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