A Glu487Lys polymorphism in the gene for mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 is associated with myocardial infarction in elderly Korean men

Background: A homozygous mutant (ALDH2^*2/^*2) of the gene for mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) at codon 487 was reported to be associated with myocardial infarction (MI) among Japanese men. However, such an association has never been studied in a Korean population. Method: The subjects consisted of 122 men (60-81 y) with MI recruited randomly from Yonsei University Medical Center, Korea. A total of 439 men (60-84 y) without MI were selected as controls from the Ansan Geriatric Study. ALDH2 genotypes were determined using the TaqMan fluorogenic 5′ nuclease polymerase chain reaction assay. Results: Genotypes carrying the mutant ALDH2 allele (ALDH2^*1/^*2 plus ALDH2^*2/^*2) were significantly more frequent in patients with MI than in the controls (42.6% vs. 30.5%, P = 0.0163). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that ALDH2^*1/^*2 plus ALDH2^*2/^*2, together with abnormal high density lipoprotein cholesterol and elevated body mass index, was an independent risk factor for MI in elderly Korean men (odds ratio = 1.976, 95% CI: 1.202-3.248). Conclusions: ALDH2 polymorphisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of MI in elderly Korean men.