Korean J Health Promot.  2017 Jun;17(2):64-70. 10.15384/kjhp.2017.17.2.64.

Association between Alcohol Drinking and the Ratio of Aspartate Aminotransferase to Alanine Aminotransferase in Korean Adult Male

• Cho YH
• Kim JS
• Kim SS
• Jung JK
• Yoon SJ
• Kim HY
• Bae YK

• KMID: 2411431
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15384/kjhp.2017.17.2.64

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine transferase (ALT) ratio increases with alcohol consumption. This study investigated AST/ALT ratio according to alcohol drinking and predictive power of AST/ALT ratio for heavy drinking in Korean men.
METHODS
In 2015, 830 men with no history of disease or medication affecting liver function values were selected. Using 14 g of alcohol as the standard glass, odd ratios (ORs) of AST/ALT ratio over 1 among the drinking group were compared with the non-drinking group by multiple logistic analyses. Screening of heavy drinkers was conducted according to both NIAAA and Korean guidelines. Using AST/ALT ratio >1, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, positive likelihood ratios, negative likelihood ratios and odds ratios were investigated.
RESULTS
After correcting for age, body mass index, exercising, and smoking history, ORs (95% confidence interval) of AST/ALT >1 were 1.607 (1.048-2.464) in <8 glasses group, 2.172 (1.160-4.065) in the 14 glasses group, and 3.670 (2.218-6.053) in the >14 glasses group. When AST/ALT >1 in the drinking group, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, likelihood ratios (LR)+, LR- and OR according to NIAAA guidelines, were 57.2%, 52.7%, 23.2%, 76.8%, 1.21 (1.04-1.41), 0.81 (0.67-0.98), and 1.49 (1.05-2.01), respectively. By Korean guidelines, these values were 55.2%, 55.3%, 33.7%, 66.3%, 1.24 (1.03-1.36), 0.84 (0.72-0.98), and 1.40 (1.04-1.89), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Healthy male adults showed a positive correlation between risk of AST/ALT >1 and drinking amount compared to the non-drinking group. Use of the AST/ALT >1 in combination with other blood markers to predict excessive drinking is advisable.

Keyword

Alcohol drinking; Aspartate aminotransferase; Alanine transaminase; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.)

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Alanine Transaminase*
Alanine*
Alcohol Drinking*
Aspartate Aminotransferases*
Aspartic Acid*
Body Mass Index
Drinking
Eyeglasses
Glass
Humans
Liver
Male*
Mass Screening
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.)
Odds Ratio
Sensitivity and Specificity
Smoke
Smoking
Transferases
Alanine
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Aspartic Acid
Smoke
Transferases

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