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Separating the effects of early and later life body mass index on liver diseases: A Mendelian randomization study
Feixiang Zhou1, Xia Liu2, Canyan Chang3
1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, PR China.
Background And Aim:
The independent effects of childhood and adult body mass index (BMI) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are lacking assessment. We aimed to separate the effects of childhood and adult BMI on NAFLD, cirrhosis, and HCC.
Methods:
Genetic variants associated with childhood and adult BMI were selected as instrumental variables. Two-sample univariable and multivariable MR estimated the total and direct effect of childhood and adult BMI on NAFLD, cirrhosis, and HCC.
Results:
Genetically predicted each 1-SD increased childhood BMI (OR = 1.30, 95 % CI = 1.12 to 1.51, P = 0.001) and adult BMI (OR = 1.57 95 % CI = 1.33 to 1.84, P = 5.49E-08) was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD. The association between childhood BMI (OR = 0.97, 95 % CI = 0.77 to 1.24, P = 0.825) and NAFLD did not remain significant after adjusting for adult BMI (OR = 1.64, 95 % CI = 1.23 to 2.20, P = 0.001). The direct effects of childhood and adult BMI on cirrhosis and HCC were insignificant after considering their relationship.
Conclusion:
Maintaining a normal BMI in adulthood significantly reduces the adverse effect of a higher childhood BMI on NAFLD. Further investigation is required to clarify the presence of this effect in cirrhosis and HCC.
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