Familial Enzymic Patterns: III Serum Glutamic Oxalacetic Transaminase SGOT in the Dentist and His Wife Final Report

Abstract

It is frequently assumed that familial patterns are of genetic origin as against environmentally determined. One hundred eighty-two dental practitioners and their wives were studied in terms of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT). The data reveal a statistically significant correlation between the husbands and the wives. Thus, this study supports an earlier smaller experiment with 48 couples, that environmental influences undoubtedly play a major role since married couples are rarely genetically related.

Introduction

Earlier reports disclosed a significant positive correlation of general symptoms and signs^1,2 and psychologic responses³ in married couples. Subsequent studies-revealed similar parallelisms with regard to blood glucose⁴ and serum cholesterol.⁵ In small and preliminary samples, like patterns were observed with serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase⁶ and lactic dehydrogenase.⁷ Finally, a series of reports designed to study familial dietary patterns also revealed positive correlations in the family unit with regard to total caloric consumption⁸ and total and refined carbohydrate.^9,10

This series of reports is intended to study the enzymic pattern in the family unit. This particular report attempts to reexamine the observations earlier made with a small sample in terms of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT). Specifically, this report attempts to answer the following three questions:

1. What is the relationship of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) in married couples?
2. How does the husband-wife correlation compare with the patterns in the husband versus an age-paired unrelated female group?
3. What conclusions may be drawn from these two sets of findings?

Method of Investigation

One hundred eighty-two dentists and their 182 wives shared in this study. These individuals are participants in the multiphasic screening program conducted in Florida under the auspices of the Southern Academy of Clinical Nutrition, in Los Angeles under the sponsorship of the Southern California Academy of Nutritional Research, in Columbus under the aegis of the Ohio Academy of Clinical Nutrition, in Connecticut under the guidance of the Northeast Academy of Clinical Nutrition, and in the San Francisco area under the supervision of the Northern California Academy of Nutritional Research. The age patterns are summarized. (Table I)

 

Table I–age distribution 

Serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) was measured (as Karmen Units) in each subject. Table II summarizes the findings. It will be noted that there is a statistically significant difference between the husbands and their wives (t = 2.934, P <0.005).

 

Table II–serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) distribution 

Results

Question One: In order to resolve the first question, a correlation coefficient was performed for the husband versus the wife (Table III) with respect to SGOT levels. It will be observed that there is a statistically significant positive relationship (r = +0.338, P<0.01). Hence, in answer to the first question, dentists with high SGOT levels are living with women with high levels; conversely, dental practitioners with low levels tend to live with women with low levels.

Question Two: A correlation coefficient was performed between the dentist and the age-paired non-wife and found to be (Table III) not significant (r = +0.020, P >0.05). Therefore, in answer to the second question, there is no significant correlation, with regard to SGOT levels, in these men and women unrelated by marriage.

 

Table III–correlation coefficients of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase [SGOT] levels

The additional question is whether time plays a role in these familial enzymic relationships. To resolve this question, the groups were subdivided into near-equal subgroups. Thus, one group of men ranged up to 43 years and the other group from 44 and up. The correlation coefficient (r) is slightly higher in the younger versus the older group (+0.362 versus +0.318).

Discussion

Table IV summarizes the initial husband-wife correlation coefficients for the entire sample and for the younger and older couples in terms of the clinical findings,^1-3 biochemical observations,^4,5 earlier serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase⁶ and lactic dehydrogenase⁷ studies, and dietary patterns.^8-10 It is interesting that, in these other published familial patterns, the only one not significant for the entire sample is SGOT. Now, in this enlarged study, with a larger sample, the SGOT correlation coefficient (r = +0.338) is statistically significant (P<0.01).

 

Table IV–husband versus wife correlation coefficients [initial findings]

In the light of this consistent positive parallelism in married couples, it is obvious that the solution will come by looking to the environment and, therefore, to life style (food, physical activity, etc.) for significant answers.

 

References Cited:

1. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr. “Frequency of Reported Symptoms and Signs in the Dentist and his Wife.” Geriatrics 23, 185 [1968].
2. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr. “Familial Clinical Patterns: I. Reported Symptoms and Signs in the Dentist and his Wife.” Geriatrics 25, 123 [1970].
3. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr. “Familial Factors in Psychic Adjustment.” J. Amer. Geriat. Soc. 17, 609 [1969].
4. Cheraskin, E., Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr., Setyaadmadja, A. T. S. H., Barrett, R. A., Sibley, G. T., and Reid, R. W. “Environmental Factors in Blood Glucose Regulation.” J. Amer. Geriat. Soc. 16, 823 [1968].
5. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr. “Familial Biochemical Patterns: I. Serum Cholesterol in the Dentist and his Wife.” J. Atheroscl. Res. 11, 247 [1970].
6. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr. “Familial Enzymic Patterns: I. Serum Glutamic Oxalacetic Transaminase [SGOT] in the Dentist and his Wife.” Nutrit. Rep. Internat. 1, 119 [1970].
7. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr. “Familial Enzymic Patterns: II. Lactic Dehydrogenase [LDH] in the Dentist and his Wife.” Nutrit. Rep. Internat. 1, 125 [1970].
8. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr. “Familial Dietary Patterns: I. Daily Caloric Consumption.” J. Appl. Nutrit. 21, 70 [1969].
9. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr. “Familial Dietary Patterns: II. Daily Carbohydrate Consumption.” J. Appl. Nutrit. 22: 17 [1970].
10. Cheraskin, E., Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr., and Hicks, B. S. “The Sweet Sickness Syndrome: I. The Refined Carbohydrate Consumption.” J. Internat. Acad. Prev. Med. 1, 107 [1974].