Causal association of polyunsaturated fatty acids with biliary tract diseases: A Mendelian randomization study.
The evidence connecting polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to biliary problems is still highly contested and speculative despite the fact that biliary diseases are common and PUFAs have long been studied for their potential health benefits. This work used Mendelian randomization (MR) techniques in conjunction with genome-wide association study (GWAS) data to clarify the causal relationships between PUFAs and biliary tract diseases.
We compiled data on PUFAs, including Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega-6 fatty acids, and the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids (Omega-6:Omega-3), using GWAS. MR was used to examine biliary tract problems (cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, gallbladder cancer, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and disorders of gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas). Single nucleotide polymorphisms significantly associated with PUFAs were selected as instrumental variables to estimate causal effects on biliary tract diseases. The final results were analyzed using five MR analysis techniques. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) was used as the primary outcome. And IVW was utilized in conjunction with the other MR analysis techniques (MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode). Additionally, we evaluated heterogeneity and horizontal multiplicity using the MR-Egger intercept test and Cochrane's Q test, respectively. Finally, to increase the accuracy and precision of the study outcomes, we carried out a number of sensitivity analyses.
We found that Omega-3 fatty acids reduced the risk of cholecystitis (OR: 0.851, P = 0.009), cholelithiasis (OR: 0.787, P = 8.76e-5), and disorders of gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas (OR: 0.842, P = 1.828e-4) but increased the primary biliary cholangitis (OR: 2.220, P = 0.004). There was no significant association between Omega-3 fatty acids and risk of gallbladder cancer (OR: 3.127, P = 0.530) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (OR: 0.919, P = 0.294). Omega-6 fatty acids were associated with a reduced risk of cholecystitis (OR: 0.845, P = 0.040). However, they were not linked to an increased or decreased risk of cholelithiasis (OR: 0.878, P = 0.14), gallbladder cancer (OR: 4.670, P = 0.515), primary sclerosing cholangitis (OR: 0.993, P = 0.962), primary cholestatic biliary cholangitis (OR: 1.404, P = 0.509), or disorders of gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas. Omega-6:Omega-3 fatty acids were linked to a greater risk of cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, and disorders of gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas (OR:1.168, P = 0.009, OR:1.191, P = 1.60e-6, and OR:1.160, P = 4.11e-6, respectively). But (OR: 0.315, P = 0.010) was linked to a decreased risk of primary biliary cholangitis. Not linked to risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis (OR: 1.079, P = 0.078) or gallbladder cancer (OR: 0.046, P = 0.402). According to the MR-Egger intercept, our MR examination did not appear to be impacted by any pleiotropy (all P > 0.05). Additionally, sensitivity studies validated the accuracy of the calculated causation.
Inconsistent causative relationships between PUFAs and biliary tract diseases were revealed in our investigation. However, Omega-3 fatty acids were found to causally lower the risk of cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, and disorders of gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas. Omega-3 fatty acids increased the risk of primary biliary cholangitis in a causative way. Omega-3 fatty acids with the risk of gallbladder cancer and primary sclerosing cholangitis did not have any statistically significant relationships. Omega-6 fatty acids were not significantly causally connected with the risk of cholelithiasis, gallbladder cancer, primary sclerosing cholangitis, or disorders of gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas. However, they did play a causative role in lowering the risk of cholecystitis. Omega-6:Omega-3 fatty acids decreased the risk of primary biliary cholangitis but increased the risk of cholecystitis, gallstone disease, and disorders of gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas. They had no effect on the risk of gallbladder cancer or primary sclerosing cholangitis. Therefore, additional research should be done to examine the probable processes mediating the link between polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk of biliary tract diseases.
Chen X
,Shi K
,Zhang Y
,Song Y
,Wang X
,Tian X
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《Clinical Nutrition ESPEN》
Mendelian Randomization Analysis Reveals Causal Associations of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids with Sepsis and Mortality Risk.
Despite numerous observational studies reporting a positive correlation between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the risk of sepsis and mortality, the causation of such an association has yet to be firmly established. Thus, our study aimed to undertake the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to scrutinize the potential causalities of PUFAs with sepsis and mortality risk.
We conducted the MR investigation using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics of PUFAs [including omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3), omega-6 fatty acids (omega-6), the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (omega-6:3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), linoleic acid (LA)], sepsis, and sepsis mortality. We utilized the GWAS summary data from the UK Biobank. To establish reliable causality, we employed the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary analytical approach, together with four additional MR methods. In addition, we performed heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy assessments using Cochrane's Q test and MR-Egger intercept test, respectively. Finally, we performed a series of sensitivity analyses to enhance the precision and veracity of our findings.
The IVW method showed that genetically predicted omega-3 [odd ratio (OR) 0.914, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.845-0.987, P = 0.023] and DHA (OR 0.893, 95% CI 0.815-0.979, P = 0.015) were suggestively linked to a decreased risk of sepsis. Furthermore, genetically predicted DHA (OR 0.819, 95% CI 0.681-0.986, P = 0.035) was suggestively associated with a reduced risk of sepsis-related death. Conversely, the omega-6:3 ratio (OR 1.177, 95% CI 1.011-1.371, P = 0.036) was suggestively linked to an increased risk of sepsis-induced mortality. On the basis of the MR-Egger intercept assessment, it appears that our MR examination was not influenced by any horizontal pleiotropy (all P > 0.05). Moreover, the reliability of the estimated causal association was confirmed by the sensitivity analyses.
Our study supported the casual effect between PUFAs and susceptibility to sepsis and sepsis-related death. Our findings underline the importance of specific PUFAs levels, particularly for individuals with a genetic susceptibility to sepsis. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and investigate the underlying mechanisms.
Lei P
,Xu W
,Wang C
,Lin G
,Yu S
,Guo Y
... -
《-》
Causal link between metabolic related factors and osteoarthritis: a Mendelian randomization investigation.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is significantly associated with osteoarthritis (OA), especially in MetS patients with blood glucose abnormalities, such as elevated fasting blood glucose (FG), which may increase OA risk. Dietary modifications, especially the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), are regarded as a potential means of preventing MetS and its complications. However, regarding the effects of FG, Omega-3s, and Omega-6s on OA, the research conclusions are conflicting, which is attributed to the complexity of the pathogenesis of OA. Therefore, it is imperative to thoroughly evaluate multiple factors to fully understand their role in OA, which needs further exploration and clarification.
Two-sample univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR) and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) were employed to examine the causal effect of metabolic related factors on hip OA (HOA) or knee OA (KOA). The exposure and outcome datasets were obtained from Open GWAS IEU. All cases were independent European ancestry data. Three MR methods were performed to estimate the causal effect: inverse-variance weighting (IVW), weighted median method (WMM), and MR-Egger regression. Additionally, the intercept analysis in MR-Egger regression is used to estimate pleiotropy, and the IVW method and MR-Egger regression are used to test the heterogeneity.
The UVMR analysis revealed a causal relationship between FG and HOA. By MVMR analysis, the study discovered a significant link between FG (OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.64∼0.99, p = 0.036) and KOA after accounting for body mass index (BMI), age, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). However, no causal effects of FG on HOA were seen. Omega-3s and Omega-6s did not have a causal influence on HOA or KOA. No significant evidence of pleiotropy was identified.
The MR investigation showed a protective effect of FG on KOA development but no causal relationship between FG and HOA. No causal effect of Omega-3s and Omega-6s on HOA and KOA was observed. Shared genetic overlaps might also exist between BMI and age, SHBG and PUFAs for OA development. This finding offers a novel insight into the treatment and prevention of KOA from glucose metabolism perspective. The FG cutoff value should be explored in the future, and consideration should be given to demonstrating the study in populations other than Europeans.
Li K
,Leng Y
,Lei D
,Zhang H
,Ding M
,Lo WLA
... -
《Frontiers in Nutrition》