Addressing causal relationship between drinking behavior and metabolic syndrome: one-sample Mendelian randomization...

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Genetics
• Public Health

Background:

• Alcohol consumption is linked to central obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, key components of metabolic syndrome (MetS).
• Previous epidemiological studies suggest an association, but lack experimental evidence for a causal relationship between drinking behavior and MetS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationship between alcohol drinking behavior and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the Taiwan population.
• Utilizing Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to establish causality.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study using the Taiwan Biobank database (n=50,640 Han Chinese, aged 30-70).
• Construction of weighted and unweighted genetic risk scores based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with alcohol consumption.
• Two-stage regression modeling to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for MetS risk.

Main Results:

• A 5% increase in genetic predisposition to drink was associated with a 1.11-fold increased odds of MetS (aOR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.10-1.12).
• Higher quartiles of genetic predisposition to drink showed significantly increased odds of MetS (Q2: 1.19, Q3: 1.31, Q4: 1.87).
• All associations were statistically significant (P < .001).

Conclusions:

• Mendelian randomization analysis indicates a modest, yet significant, causal relationship between alcohol drinking behavior and metabolic syndrome.
• Findings support public health initiatives aimed at reducing alcohol consumption to mitigate MetS risk.