Variation in the sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 gene is associated with risk of acute coronary syndrome among women.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Vitamin C is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease possibly due to its anti-oxidative effects, beneficial effects on endothelial function and importance in collagen synthesis. The sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 is responsible for the transport of vitamin C into various cells and malfunction of this protein leads to reduced vitamin C in tissue, including the arterial wall. We tested the hypothesis that candidate variations rs6139591 and rs1776964 in the gene coding for sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 are associated with development of acute coronary syndrome.

DESIGN:

In the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort study, we performed a case-cohort study among 57,053 subjects aged 50-64 years.

RESULTS:

During a mean follow-up period of 6.4 years, we identified 936 cases and randomly selected a sub-cohort (n = 1,580) with full information on genotypes and covariates. Using Cox proportional hazard models, we found that women with the rs6139591 TT genotype and a lower than median dietary vitamin C intake had a higher risk of acute coronary syndrome compared with those with the CC genotype (adjusted HR 5.39, 95% confidence interval, 2.01-14.50). We also observed a not as strong but positive although inconsistent association for women at a higher than median intake of vitamin C rich food. For the rs1776964 polymorphism, we found a higher risk (adjusted HR 3.45, 95% CI, 1.16-10.28) among TT-homozygous women with higher than median vitamin C intake compared with the CC genotype and low vitamin C intake. Among men, weaker and non-significant associations were observed for both polymorphisms.

CONCLUSION:

Genetic variation in the sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 is associated with risk of incident acute coronary syndrome in women. The genotype effects may not be fully compensated by a higher intake of vitamin C rich food.

• Authors: Christine Dalgård, Lene Christiansen, Ulla Vogel, Claus Dethlefsen, Anne Tjønneland, Kim Overvad
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 8 Issue 8 Pg. e70421 ( 2013) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23990905 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Genetic Markers
• SLC23A2 protein, human
• Sodium-Coupled Vitamin C Transporters
• Ascorbic Acid

Topics

• Acute Coronary Syndrome (genetics)
• Ascorbic Acid (metabolism)
• Cohort Studies
• Diet
• Female
• Genetic Markers
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Genetic Variation
• Genotype
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polymorphism, Genetic
• Proportional Hazards Models
• Risk
• Sodium-Coupled Vitamin C Transporters (genetics)