Gamma-glutamyltransferase, alcohol, and blood pressure: A four year follow-up study

PURPOSE: We performed this study to see: 1) whether gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) was a predictor for hypertension irrespective of amount of alcohol consumption; and 2) whether the relationship between alcohol consumption and blood pressure (BP) was different depending on GOT. METHODS: This study included 8 170 healthy male workers in a steel manufacturing company who had undergone health examinations in both 1994 and 1998. RESULTS: The adjusted relative risk (RR) for hypertension over four years among those with GGT greater than or equal to 30 U/L at baseline was 1.6 (95% confidence interval (Cl): 1.1-2.4), compared to those with GOT < 30 U/L. This relationship was shown only in drinkers. Among subjects with GGT < 30U/L, no matter how Much the subjects drank, the risk of hypertension in drinkers was similar with that of nun-drinkers. However, among those with GGT greater than or equal to 30 U/L, adjusted RRs for light, moderate, and heavy drinkers compared to non-drinkers were 1.4 (95% Cl: 0.5-4.5), 5.2 (95% Cl: 1.5-18.0), and 5.3 (95% Cl: 1.0-27.6), CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that elevated GOT could be a predictor for hypertension in drinkers and the relationship between alcohol consumption and hypertension was shown only among those with GOT greater than or equal to 30 U/L at baseline, These findings suggest that increased serum GGT levels may reflect individual susceptibility to the blood pressure raising effect of alcohol. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.