Associations of alcohol consumption and alcohol flush reaction with leukocyte telomere length in Korean adults.
10.4162/nrp.2017.11.4.334
- Author:
Hyewon WANG
1
;
Hyungjo KIM
;
Inkyung BAIK
Author Information
1. Department of Foods and Nutrition, College of Science and Technology, Kookmin University, 77, Jeongnung-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02707, Korea. ibaik@kookmin.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Alcohol;
telomere;
aging;
aldehyde dehydrogenase
- MeSH:
Acetaldehyde;
Adult*;
Aging;
Alcohol Drinking*;
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Humans;
Leukocytes*;
Linear Models;
Oxidoreductases;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Telomere*
- From:Nutrition Research and Practice
2017;11(4):334-339
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Telomere length is a useful biomarker for determining general aging status. Some studies have reported an association between alcohol consumption and telomere length in a general population; however, it is unclear whether the alcohol flush reaction, which is an alcohol-related trait predominantly due to acetaldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, is associated with telomere length. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the associations of alcohol consumption and alcohol flush reaction with leukocyte telomere length (LTL). SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study included 1,803 Korean adults. Participants provided blood specimens for LTL measurement assay and reported their alcohol drinking status and the presence of an alcohol flush reaction via a questionnaire-based interview. Relative LTL was determined by using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis used multiple linear regression models stratified by sex and age groups, and potential confounding factors were considered. RESULTS: Age-specific analyses showed that heavy alcohol consumption (> 30 g/day) was strongly associated with a reduced LTL in participants aged ≥ 65 years (P < 0.001) but not in younger participants. Similarly, the alcohol flush reaction was associated with a reduced LTL only in older participants who consumed > 15 g/day of alcohol (P < 0.01). No significant alcohol consumption or alcohol flush reaction associations with LTL were observed in the sex-specific analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that older alcohol drinkers, particularly those with the alcohol flush reaction, may have an accelerated aging process.
