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Mendelian randomization analysis of the causal relationship between micronutrients and childhood asthma
Zhimei Liu1, Caiwen Wang2, Xiaofei Xie2
1Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
Background:
Existing research have suggested a significant association between micronutrients and childhood asthma, but the specific causal relationship between micronutrients and childhood asthma remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to assess the causal relationship between micronutrients and childhood asthma using Mendelian randomization methods.
Methods:
We conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses and multivariable Mendelian randomization analyses using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of micronutrients (Copper, Calcium, Carotene, Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Selenium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Zinc) and childhood asthma among European individuals from the Open GWAS and FinnGen databases. Five Mendelian randomization methods-Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), Weighted Median, MR-Egger, Simple Mode, and Weighted Mode-were employed to investigate the causal relationship between micronutrients and childhood asthma.
Results:
The IVW method revealed a significant inverse association between zinc and the risk of childhood asthma (OR: 0.002, 95% CI: 0.000-0.153, p = 0.005). Copper (OR: 0.998, 95% CI: 0.947-1.052, p = 0.951), Selenium (OR: 0.967, 95% CI: 0.866-1.079, p = 0.544), Folate (OR: 0.885, 95% CI: 0.603-1.300, p = 0.534), Carotene (OR: 0.849, 95% CI: 0.594-1.215, p = 0.371), Potassium (OR: 1.262, 95% CI: 0.836-1.905, p = 0.268), Vitamin D (OR: 1.237, 95% CI: 0.791-1.934, p = 0.352), Vitamin C (OR: 1.154, 95% CI: 0.759-1.756, p = 0.503), Vitamin B12 (OR: 1.177, 95% CI: 0.754-1.839, p = 0.473), Iron (OR: 0.873, 95% CI: 0.552-1.383, p = 0.563), Vitamin E (OR: 1.082, 95% CI: 0.768-1.524, p = 0.651), Magnesium (OR: 1.190, 95% CI: 0.828-1.712, p = 0.347), Vitamin B6 (OR: 0.928, 95% CI: 0.592-1.456, p = 0.746), Calcium (OR: 1.255, 95% CI: 0.840-1.876, p = 0.268), and Vitamin A (OR: 3.928, 95% CI: 0.001-15166.57, p = 0.745) had no significant causal associations with childhood asthma. The multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis for zinc, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C indicated that zinc is a significant protective factor against childhood asthma (OR: 0.001, 95% CI: 0.000-0.165, p = 0.007). In contrast, Vitamin A and Vitamin C did not show significant causal relationships with childhood asthma when controlling for zinc levels.
Conclusion:
Our study confirms the specific causal relationships between micronutrients and childhood asthma using Mendelian randomization methods.
Insights
This study found that zinc acts as a protective factor against childhood asthma. Mendelian randomization analyses confirmed a significant inverse association between zinc levels and the risk of developing childhood asthma.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Genetic Epidemiology
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Existing research suggests a link between micronutrients and childhood asthma.
- The precise causal relationship between micronutrient intake and childhood asthma remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal relationship between various micronutrients and childhood asthma.
- Utilize Mendelian randomization methods to assess causality.
Main Methods:
- Conducted two-sample and multivariable Mendelian randomization analyses.
- Utilized genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for 15 micronutrients and childhood asthma in European populations.
- Employed five MR methods: IVW, Weighted Median, MR-Egger, Simple Mode, and Weighted Mode.
Main Results:
- Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) analysis revealed a significant inverse association between zinc and childhood asthma risk (OR: 0.002).
- Multivariable Mendelian randomization confirmed zinc as a significant protective factor (OR: 0.001).
- No significant causal associations were found for Copper, Calcium, Carotene, Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Selenium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, or Vitamin E with childhood asthma risk.
Conclusions:
- This study confirms specific causal relationships between certain micronutrients and childhood asthma.
- Zinc is identified as a significant protective factor against childhood asthma.
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