Relationship of alcohol use and facial flushing to blood pressure and HbA1c among Cambodian populations with dysglycemia in the U.S. and in Cambodia.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Facial flushing after drinking alcohol, common among Asians, is a phenotype for genes involved in alcohol metabolism.

Methods

We investigated cross-sectional associations between flushing, alcohol use, blood pressure (BP) and HbA1c among (n = 287) Cambodians with dysglycemia in Cambodia and in the U.S. Participants were categorized as Abstainers, Flushers who drink, or Non-flushers who drink.

Results

Flushers and Non-flushers had similar alcohol use. Flushers had higher BP than Non-flushers and Abstainers, even after controlling for confounders. Findings were similar across countries. Drinkers had higher HbA1c than Abstainers.

Conclusions

Future research should examine whether reducing alcohol improves cardiometabolic outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Feinn R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8857070 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature