Exploring the Links Between Micronutrients and Cardiac Traits: Roles of Vitamins A1, B9, and D

Micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, are essential for cardiac health, but their effects on cardiac structure and function remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the causal impact of micronutrients on cardiac traits through Mendelian randomization (MR).

A two-sample MR approach was employed to assess the causal effects between 14 micronutrients and 98 cardiac traits from various consortia and cohorts. Inverse variance-weighted (IVW) MR analyses were conducted, alongside a range of sensitivity analyses to confirm robustness. Both exposure and outcome populations were of European descent.

Significant associations were found for Vitamins A1, B9, and D with various cardiac traits. Vitamin D was linked to reduced left ventricular end-diastolic myocardial wall thickness (IVW β: -0.16; 95% CI: -0.29 to -0.03; p = 0.01) and increased regional longitudinal and radial strains of the left ventricle (IVW β: 0.19; p = 0.03; IVW β: 0.17; p = 0.04). Vitamin A1 was associated with reduced left ventricular mass (IVW β: -10.23; p = 0.03; IVW β: -13.72; p = 0.007), both with and without body surface area and blood pressure adjustments. Vitamin B9 was associated with reductions in left ventricular mass (IVW β: -0.09; p = 0.04), myocardial wall thickness (IVW β: -0.13; p = 0.04), and ascending aorta maximum area (IVW β: -0.19; p = 0.01). No significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was observed.

Vitamins A1, B9, and D exhibit beneficial effects on cardiac structure and function, offering potential targets for nutritional intervention in at-risk populations.