Exploring causal relationships between circulating micronutrients and age-related eye diseases: a Mendelian...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Nutritional Science
• Genetics

Background:

• Age-related eye diseases (AREDs) pose a growing global health challenge due to population aging.
• Key AREDs include senile cataract (SC), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy (DR).
• Effective prevention and treatment strategies for AREDs are urgently needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential causal links between circulating micronutrients (CMs) and AREDs.
• To assess the impact of fifteen specific CMs on the risk of developing major AREDs.
• To inform the development of targeted nutritional interventions for AREDs.

Main Methods:

• A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed.
• Genetic variants from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) served as instrumental variables.
• Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) analysis was the primary method, supported by sensitivity analyses.

Main Results:

• Selenium intake showed a protective association with senile cataract (SC) and diabetic retinopathy (DR).
• Higher genetically predicted magnesium levels were linked to a decreased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
• No significant causal links were found between other tested CMs and glaucoma or other AREDs.

Conclusions:

• Circulating micronutrients, particularly selenium and magnesium, play a role in the pathogenesis of specific AREDs.
• These findings support the potential of nutritional strategies for ARED prevention.
• Further research can guide public health initiatives and personalized dietary recommendations.