Association between Alcohol Drinking and the Ratio of Aspartate Aminotransferase to Alanine Aminotransferase in Korean Adult Male.
10.15384/kjhp.2017.17.2.64
- Author:
Young Hee CHO
1
;
Jong Sung KIM
;
Sung Soo KIM
;
Jin Kyu JUNG
;
Seok Joon YOON
;
Hyeun Young KIM
;
Yoon Kyung BAE
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. josephkim@cnu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Alcohol drinking;
Aspartate aminotransferase;
Alanine transaminase;
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.)
- MeSH:
Adult*;
Alanine Transaminase*;
Alanine*;
Alcohol Drinking*;
Aspartate Aminotransferases*;
Aspartic Acid*;
Body Mass Index;
Drinking;
Eyeglasses;
Glass;
Humans;
Liver;
Male*;
Mass Screening;
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.);
Odds Ratio;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Smoke;
Smoking;
Transferases
- From:Korean Journal of Health Promotion
2017;17(2):64-70
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine transferase (ALT) ratio increases with alcohol consumption. This study investigated AST/ALT ratio according to alcohol drinking and predictive power of AST/ALT ratio for heavy drinking in Korean men. METHODS: In 2015, 830 men with no history of disease or medication affecting liver function values were selected. Using 14 g of alcohol as the standard glass, odd ratios (ORs) of AST/ALT ratio over 1 among the drinking group were compared with the non-drinking group by multiple logistic analyses. Screening of heavy drinkers was conducted according to both NIAAA and Korean guidelines. Using AST/ALT ratio >1, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, positive likelihood ratios, negative likelihood ratios and odds ratios were investigated. RESULTS: After correcting for age, body mass index, exercising, and smoking history, ORs (95% confidence interval) of AST/ALT >1 were 1.607 (1.048-2.464) in <8 glasses group, 2.172 (1.160-4.065) in the 14 glasses group, and 3.670 (2.218-6.053) in the >14 glasses group. When AST/ALT >1 in the drinking group, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, likelihood ratios (LR)+, LR- and OR according to NIAAA guidelines, were 57.2%, 52.7%, 23.2%, 76.8%, 1.21 (1.04-1.41), 0.81 (0.67-0.98), and 1.49 (1.05-2.01), respectively. By Korean guidelines, these values were 55.2%, 55.3%, 33.7%, 66.3%, 1.24 (1.03-1.36), 0.84 (0.72-0.98), and 1.40 (1.04-1.89), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy male adults showed a positive correlation between risk of AST/ALT >1 and drinking amount compared to the non-drinking group. Use of the AST/ALT >1 in combination with other blood markers to predict excessive drinking is advisable.
