Associations of the ALDH2 rs671 polymorphism and alcohol intake with early-onset gout in a Chinese male cohort

Objective

Gout in young people is increasingly common across the world, including in China. This study aimed to identify clinical and genetic associations with early-onset gout in Chinese men.

Methods

One thousand two hundred and one Chinese men with gout were included. Early-onset gout was defined as the first presentation of gout at < 30 years. Twenty single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified as gout-risk loci or associated with serum urate (SU) levels in East Asian populations were genotyped. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of SNPs and clinical factors with early-onset gout.

Results

Four hundred and thirty-three (36.1%) participants were identified as having early-onset gout. These patients had higher SU levels and were more likely to experience gout flares than those with later-onset gout. The ALDH2 rs671 GG genotype was associated with a lower risk of early-onset gout. Compared to those with GG genotype who never drank alcohol before gout onset, individuals with AA or AG genotypes who drank alcohol before gout onset had a higher likelihood of early-onset gout. Additionally, alcohol intake significantly increased the likelihood of gout flares in early-onset gout patients. Moreover, body mass index, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, family history of gout and renal urate underexcretion were associated with early-onset gout.

Conclusions

The ALDH2 rs671 GG genotype was significantly associated with a lower risk of early-onset gout, while individuals with the AA or AG genotype who consumed alcohol were more susceptible. These findings indicate that alcohol intake is a potentially modifiable risk factor for early-onset gout in genetically susceptible individuals.