Sarcopenia-related traits and erectile dysfunction: a bi-directional Mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Epidemiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) and sarcopenia share risk factors, but their causal link is unclear.
• Sarcopenia is characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and function.
• Investigating the interplay between these conditions is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the potential causal relationship between sarcopenia-related traits and ED.
• To assess if sarcopenia influences ED risk or vice versa using genetic data.
• To explore the genetic underpinnings of the association between muscle function and erectile health.

Main Methods:

• Bi-directional 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
• Utilized genetic variants associated with hand grip strength, appendicular lean mass, and walking pace.
• Employed inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO methods for robust causal inference and pleiotropy assessment.

Main Results:

• A positive causal effect of appendicular lean mass on ED (OR=1.097, P=0.029).
• A negative causal effect of walking pace on ED (OR=0.325, P=0.00052), indicating faster walking pace is protective.
• No significant causal relationship was found between hand grip strength and ED, nor was reverse causality observed from ED to sarcopenia-related traits.

Conclusions:

• Slower walking pace, a functional sarcopenia trait, may causally contribute to ED risk.
• Increased appendicular lean mass shows a potential causal link to ED.
• Findings emphasize the role of physical function in ED and suggest interventions targeting fitness may be beneficial.