Gamma-glytamiltransferase activity and cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease and cerebral stroke)

Purpose: To investigate association between gamma-glytamiltransferase levels and the development of CVD. The data were taken from materials of the epidemiological study "Determinants of cardiovascular disease in Eastern Europe", the HAPPIE project. We investigated representative samples from non-organized population of men and women 45-69 years old living in Novosibirsk - 9361 subjects (4275 men and 5086 women). The program of study included: questionnaire of previous CVD, smoking status and alcohol consumption; two blood pressure measurements; anthropometry, biochemical analysis (gamma-glytamiltransferase, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides) and rest ECG. Among all subjects we distinguished three groups: first - patients with diagnosed ischemic heart disease (angina pectoris or myocardial infarction) and without previous cerebral stroke; second - patients with previous cerebral stroke (without ischemic heart disease); third patients without previous ischemic heart disease and cerebral stroke (control group). We revealed reliable data on sex-dependent difference of gamma-glytamiltransferase activity: men have higher gamma-glytamiltransferase activity compared with women in all age groups. Subjects who didn't take alcoholic drinks during the last year have noticeably lower gamma-glytamiltransferase level than those who took alcoholic drinks during that period. Gamma-glytamiltransferase activity was higher both in men and women in group with ischemic heart disease, than in control group. We did not reveal difference in gamma-glytamiltransferase activity between groups with cerebral stroke and control group. The similar patterns were revealed in subjects who didn't take alcoholic drinks during the last year.