The effects of fatty acids on psoriasis: A two-sample mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Genetic Epidemiology

Background:

• Emerging evidence suggests a link between fatty acids (FA) and psoriasis.
• The precise correlation between FA and psoriasis remains uncertain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential causal relationship between fatty acid levels and psoriasis using a Mendelian randomization approach.

Main Methods:

• Mendelian randomization analysis was employed to assess causality.
• Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data were utilized for the investigation.
• Additional analyses were conducted to validate the findings and assess pleiotropy.

Main Results:

• Elevated levels of n-3 fatty acids were associated with a reduced risk of psoriasis (IVW, OR/95% CI: 0.998/(0.997, 0.999), p = 2.479 × 10⁻⁴).
• Complementary analyses confirmed the consistency of these findings.
• No evidence of horizontal pleiotropy was detected, and other FA types showed no causal effect on psoriasis.

Conclusions:

• N-3 fatty acids show potential in lowering the risk of developing psoriasis.
• Further confirmation through prospective studies and large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is warranted.