Diet-derived antioxidants and osteoporosis: A Mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Genetics
• Bone Health

Background:

• Antioxidants show potential in preventing osteoporosis.
• The specific link between serum antioxidants and osteoporosis causes is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal effect of genetically predicted serum levels of diet-derived antioxidants on osteoporosis risk.
• To assess the impact of antioxidant supplementation on bone health.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design.
• Selected genetic variants associated with diet-derived antioxidants from genome-wide association studies.
• Analyzed data from 12,946 osteoporosis cases and 506,624 controls from UK Biobank and GEFOS consortia.

Main Results:

• Genetically predicted higher beta-carotene and gamma-tocopherol showed an inverse relationship with osteoporosis risk in UK Biobank.
• Meta-analysis confirmed beta-carotene and gamma-tocopherol decrease osteoporosis risk.
• Elevated beta-carotene levels were associated with increased total body, lumbar spine, and femoral neck bone mineral density.

Conclusions:

• Genetically predicted serum beta-carotene is linked to elevated bone mineral density.
• Higher beta-carotene levels may play a role in preventing osteoporosis.