Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 rs671G>A polymorphism and ischemic stroke risk in Chinese population: a meta-analysis

Yue-Long Xu,1 Yuan-Yuan Hu,2 Ji-Wei Li,1 Lan Zhou,3 Li Li,1 Yu-Ming Niu21Department of Neurology, Linyi Central Hospital, Linyi 276400, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Stomatology and Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Neurology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of ChinaIntroduction: Recently, molecular epidemiological studies have suggested that aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) rs671 G>A polymorphism may be a risk factor for ischemic stroke (IS). However, the results reported have not been consistent.Methods: We conducted the meta-analysis to explore the precise association between ALDH2 rs671 G>A polymorphism and IS risk. Five online databases were searched and the relative studies were reviewed from inception to October 1, 2018. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in each genetic model of the general and subgroup. Furthermore, the heterogeneity, accumulative analyses, sensitivity analyses and publication bias were calculated simultaneously.Results: Overall, nine case-control studies involving 6,129 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. All studies were focused on the Chinese population and some significant associations were found between ALDH2 rs671 G>A polymorphism and IS risk (A vs G: OR=1.29, 95% CI=1.01–1.65, P=0.04, I2=78.2%; AA vs GG: OR=1.86, 95% CI=1.27–2.21, P<0.01, I2=11.3%; AA vs GG + GA: OR=1.67, 95% CI=1.27–2.19, P<0.01, I2=0%). Some significant and similar results were also observed in the subgroup analysis.Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicates that the ALDH2 rs671 G>A polymorphism may play an important role in the occurrence of IS by reducing the activity of ALDH2 and interfering with the metabolic processes involving acetaldehyde.Keywords: aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, rs671, ischemic stroke, polymorphism, meta-analysi