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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
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Circulating levels of micronutrients and risk of infections: a Mendelian randomization study

Helene M Flatby1,2, Anuradha Ravi3,4, Jan K Damås3,5,6

  • 1Gemini Center for Sepsis Research, Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Prinsesse Kristinas gate 3, Akutten og Hjerte-lunge-senteret, 3. etg, 7491, Trondheim, Norway. helene.flatby@ntnu.no.

BMC Medicine
|March 7, 2023
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Low copper levels may increase the risk of gastrointestinal infections. This Mendelian randomization study investigated eight micronutrients and infection risk, finding a significant association only for copper.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Immunology
  • Genetic Epidemiology

Background:

  • Micronutrients are vital for immune function, and deficiencies increase infection susceptibility.
  • Previous studies on micronutrients and infection risk have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causal effect of blood levels of eight micronutrients on the risk of three common infections using Mendelian randomization.
  • To assess the association between copper, iron, selenium, zinc, beta-carotene, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and vitamin D levels and the risk of gastrointestinal infections, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections.

Main Methods:

  • Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis utilizing summary statistics from European ancestry cohorts.
  • Data from UK Biobank and FinnGen were used for infection risk data.
  • Inverse variance-weighted MR and sensitivity analyses were performed.

Main Results:

  • A significant inverse association was found between genetically predicted higher circulating copper levels and the risk of gastrointestinal infections (OR 0.91, P = 1.38E-03).
  • Each standard deviation increase in copper was associated with a 9% reduced odds of gastrointestinal infections.
  • No significant associations were observed for other investigated micronutrients (iron, selenium, zinc, beta-carotene, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D) with any of the three infection types.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support a protective role for copper in susceptibility to gastrointestinal infections.
  • Copper may be a key factor in modulating the risk of developing gastrointestinal infections.
Keywords:
CopperGastrointestinal infectionsInfectionsMendelian randomizationMicronutrients

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