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Relationship of Serum Gamma-Glutamyltransferase Levels with Pulmonary Function and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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Abstract

Background

Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels within the normal reference range, possibly a biomarker of oxidative stress and/or exposure to various environmental chemicals, are associated with pulmonary function. However, it is unclear whether it is totally independent of cigarette smoking. Also, the potential interaction between serum GGT and cigarette smoking has not ever been evaluated. Therefore, this study investigated (1) whether serum GGT levels are associated with pulmonary function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), independent of cigarette smoking, and (2) whether there is any interaction between serum GGT and cigarette smoking status on pulmonary function.

Methods

The study subjects were 4,583 participants aged ≥40 in the 2010–2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The outcomes were pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] and forced vital capacity [FVC]) and spirometrically defined COPD.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, including cigarette smoking, serum GGT levels were inversely associated with FEV1 and FVC in both genders and positively associated with the risk of COPD in men (all P values <0.01). In men, adjusted odds ratios of COPD were 1.0, 1.69, 1.97, and 2.02 across the quartiles of GGT level (P trend = 0.002). However, the associations between serum GGT and pulmonary function seemed to differ depending on the smoking status; inverse associations of GGT with FEV1 % and FVC % were clearly observed only among non-current smokers.

Conclusions

In conclusion, in non-smokers serum GGT levels can be used to detect individuals at high risk of decreased pulmonary function and/or COPD.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partly supported by Grants from the Korean Health Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI13C0715), and the National Research Foundation of Korea (No. 2013R1A2A2A01068254).

Conflict of interest

Nothing to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Daegu Medical Center, 157 Pyungli-ro, Seo-Gu, Daegu, 703-713, Korea

    Hyun-Woo Kim & Seock-Hwan Lee

  2. Department of Preventative Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 700-842, Korea

    Duk-Hee Lee

  3. BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 700-842, Korea

    Duk-Hee Lee

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  1. Hyun-Woo Kim
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Correspondence to Duk-Hee Lee.

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Kim, HW., Lee, SH. & Lee, DH. Relationship of Serum Gamma-Glutamyltransferase Levels with Pulmonary Function and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Lung 192, 719–727 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-014-9616-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-014-9616-3

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