Triglycerides and Hypertension in a Korean Population: An Individual-Level Mendelian Randomization Analysis.
1Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Life Science and Nano Technology, Hannam University, Daejeon 34054, Republic of Korea.
Nutrients
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Elevated triglyceride (TG) levels show a strong association with hypertension in observational studies. However, Mendelian randomization analysis in Korean adults provided inconclusive genetic evidence for a causal link, suggesting TG may reflect broader cardiometabolic issues.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Genetics
- Metabolic Disease Research
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Elevated triglyceride (TG) levels are frequently linked to hypertension in observational research.
- The causal role of TGs in hypertension development is uncertain, particularly in East Asian populations.
- Limited evidence exists regarding the TG-hypertension relationship in diverse ethnic groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential causal effect of triglyceride levels on hypertension.
- To evaluate this relationship using Mendelian randomization in a Korean adult cohort.
- To compare genetic evidence with observational findings for TG and hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Individual-level genetic and phenotypic data from 2159 Korean adults were analyzed.
- Genome-wide association analysis identified TG-associated SNPs as instrumental variables (IVs).
- A two-stage IV Mendelian randomization framework and logistic regression were employed.
Main Results:
- Observational analyses revealed a significant positive association between TG levels and hypertension.
- Three TG-associated SNPs were identified, but explained limited TG variance (partial R² 0.008–0.020).
- Mendelian randomization estimates were directionally positive but statistically nonsignificant, indicating low precision.
Conclusions:
- Observational data strongly associate TG levels with hypertension in this Korean cohort.
- Mendelian randomization provided inconclusive genetic evidence for a causal relationship.
- TG levels may indicate broader cardiometabolic dysregulation rather than being an isolated cause of hypertension.
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