Causal relationship between nutritional assessment phenotypes and heart failure: A Mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Genetics
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Malnutrition is linked to heart failure (HF), but the causal relationship is not fully understood.
• Mendelian randomization (MR) is a powerful genetic epidemiological tool to investigate causal inference.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the causal associations between nutritional assessment phenotypes and HF using MR.
• To explore whether common HF risk factors mediate these associations.

Main Methods:

• Two-sample bidirectional MR was employed to assess causal links between nutritional phenotypes and HF.
• Multivariate MR analyzed mutual influences and correlations among nutritional phenotypes.
• Two-step MR quantified the mediating role of common HF risk factors.

Main Results:

• Positive associations with HF: waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and whole body fat mass (WBFM). WBFM showed the strongest association.
• Negative associations with HF: usual walking pace (UWP), educational attainment (EA), and total cholesterol (TC).
• Bidirectional causality was observed between HF and UWP. Common HF risk factors mediated these associations.

Conclusions:

• BMI, WC, and WBFM are potential risk factors for HF, with WBFM being particularly significant.
• EA, UWP, and TC may act as protective factors against HF.
• Identifying nutritional factors early can improve HF patient outcomes.