Causal associations between diet and thromboembolism: A 2-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Epidemiology
• Nutritional Science
• Genetic Epidemiology

Background:

• Dietary habits are linked to cardiovascular diseases, including venous thromboembolism (VTE).
• The causal relationship between diet and VTE risk requires further investigation.
• Understanding these links is crucial for VTE prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential causal association between various dietary intakes and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).
• To utilize a robust 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach for assessing genetic links between diet and VTE.
• To identify specific dietary factors that may increase or decrease VTE risk.

Main Methods:

• Employed a 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from UK Biobank and FinnGen.
• Utilized Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW) as the primary MR analysis method.
• Performed sensitivity analyses including Cochran Q test, MR-Egger intercept, and leave-one-out analysis to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy.

Main Results:

• Identified 8 dietary factors associated with a reduced risk of VTE: black pepper, chili pepper, curry, globe artichoke, herring, mackerel, sardines, and alcohol consumption.
• Found that ham intake was significantly associated with an increased risk of VTE.
• Observed associations between specific food preferences (cheesecake, coffee with sugar, gherkins) and risks of pulmonary embolism and deep-vein thrombosis, respectively.

Conclusions:

• The MR analysis supports a genetic causal relationship between certain dietary habits and the development of VTE.
• Dietary modifications, including increased consumption of fish and plant-based foods and reduced ham intake, may play a role in VTE prevention.
• Further research into specific dietary components and their impact on VTE pathogenesis is warranted.