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

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. 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. 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). ALDH2 polymorphisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of MI in elderly Korean men.