Association between Alcohol Consumption and DNA Methylation in Blood: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

Abstract

Aim: We systematically reviewed and evaluated current literature on alcohol consumption and DNA methylation (DNAm) at the genome-wide and probe-wise level in blood of adults. Materials&methods: Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and PsycInfo) were searched until 20 December 2020. Studies assessing the effect of alcohol dependence on DNAm were not eligible. Results: 11 cross-sectional studies were included with 88 to 9643 participants. Overall, all studies had a risk of bias criteria unclear or unmet. Epigenome-wide association studies identified between 0 and 5458 differentially methylated positions, and 15 were observed in at least four studies. Conclusion: Potential methylation markers for alcohol consumption have been identified, but further validation in large cohorts is needed.

Keywords::

• alcohol consumption
• blood
• differentially methylated positions
•  DMP
• DNA methylation
• epigenetic biomarkers
• systematic review

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/epi-2022-0055

Author contributions

D Dragic, C Diorio, K Ennour-Idrissi, S-L Chang, F Durocher, and G Severi contributed to the conception and design of the systematic review. D Dragic and C Diorio developed the research strategy and carried out the selection of studies. D Dragic handled the data extraction, the assessment of risk bias, and data analysis with participation from C Diorio, K Ennour-Idrissi, and S-L Chang when required. D Dragic drafted the first version of the manuscript. All authors read, revised, and approved the manuscript. D Dragic is responsible for the information provided.

Financial&competing interests disclosure

D Dragic holds a Scholarship of Excellence from the University Laval Cancer Research Center and a doctoral funding from the University Paris-Saclay Doctoral School of Public Health EDSP. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

D Dragic holds a Scholarship of Excellence from the University Laval Cancer Research Center and a doctoral funding from the University Paris-Saclay Doctoral School of Public Health EDSP. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.