GSTT1 genotype modifies the association between cruciferous vegetable intake and the risk of myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND

Cruciferous vegetables are a major dietary source of isothiocyanates that may protect against coronary heart disease. Isothiocyanates induce glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), polymorphic genes that code for enzymes that conjugate isothiocyanates, as well as mutagens and reactive oxygen species, to make them more readily excretable.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to determine whether GST genotypes modify the association between cruciferous vegetable intake and the risk of myocardial infarction (MI).

DESIGN

Cases (n = 2042) with a first acute nonfatal MI and population-based controls (n = 2042) living in Costa Rica, who were matched for age, sex, and area of residence, were genotyped for a deletion polymorphism in GSTM1 and GSTT1 and an Ile105Val substitution in GSTP1. Cruciferous vegetable intake and smoking status were determined by questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for MI were estimated by unconditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

Compared with the lowest tertile of cruciferous vegetable intake, the highest tertile was associated with a lower risk of MI among persons with the functional GSTT11 allele (OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.84) but not among those with the GSTT100 genotype (OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 0.83, 1.82) (P = 0.006 for interaction). This protective effect among those with the GSTT11 allele was greater for current smokers (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.36, 0.79) than for nonsmokers. GSTP1 and GSTM1 did not modify the association between cruciferous vegetable intake and MI.

CONCLUSIONS

Consumption of cruciferous vegetables was associated with a lower risk of MI among those with a functional GSTT1*1 allele, which suggests that compounds that are detoxified by this enzyme contribute to the risk of MI.