Alcohol and coronary heart disease : unresolved issues
This study brings about an interesting finding about the relationship between alcohol intake, genetic predisposition and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. The presence of rs 1229984 A-allele in the European study population seems to have a cardio-protective role such as less intake of alcohol and several cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, non-HDL cholesterol etc. However, the intriguing fact is the observation that which is contrary to the general observation of U shaped relationship between alcohol and coronary heart disease. The present study concludes that reduction in alcohol intake would lower the events of coronary heart disease. This finding needs to be corroborated with other observational findings as well since there are still chances of bias in getting information on accurate quantity of alcohol consumption based on questionnaire method adopted in the present study.
The other unanswered question based on the study findings is whether presence of rs 1229984 A-allele in the study population protects against several cardiovascular risk factors or is it merely a chance of observation. Could the absence of these risk factors be attributed to their lifestyle, eating habits, performance of exercises, their knowledge and favourable attitude towards a healthy living ? We need to probe further on these issues in relation to the presence or absence of rs 1229984 A-allele.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
16 July 2014
Mongjam Meghachandra Singh
Professor
Reeta Devi
Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi; co-author-Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
Department of Community Medicine, MAMC, New Delhi and School of Health Sciences, IGNOU, New Delhi
This study brings about an interesting finding about the relationship between alcohol intake, genetic predisposition and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. The presence of rs 1229984 A-allele in the European study population seems to have a cardio-protective role such as less intake of alcohol and several cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, non-HDL cholesterol etc. However, the intriguing fact is the observation that which is contrary to the general observation of U shaped relationship between alcohol and coronary heart disease. The present study concludes that reduction in alcohol intake would lower the events of coronary heart disease. This finding needs to be corroborated with other observational findings as well since there are still chances of bias in getting information on accurate quantity of alcohol consumption based on questionnaire method adopted in the present study.
The other unanswered question based on the study findings is whether presence of rs 1229984 A-allele in the study population protects against several cardiovascular risk factors or is it merely a chance of observation. Could the absence of these risk factors be attributed to their lifestyle, eating habits, performance of exercises, their knowledge and favourable attitude towards a healthy living ? We need to probe further on these issues in relation to the presence or absence of rs 1229984 A-allele.
Competing interests: No competing interests