Oily fish and raw vegetable consumption can decrease the risk of AQP4-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: a Mendelian-randomization study

Abstract

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are severe inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system targeting aquaporin‐4 (AQP4). The risk factors for NMOSD remain to be determined, though they may be related to diet and nutrition. This study aimed to explore the possibility of a causal relationship between specific food intake and AQP4-positive NMOSD risk. The study followed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design. Genetic instruments and self-reported information on the intake of 29 types of food were obtained from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 445,779 UK Biobank participants. A total of 132 individuals with AQP4-positive NMOSD and 784 controls from this GWAS were included in our study. The associations were evaluated using inverse-variance-weighted meta-analysis, weighted-median analysis, and MR-Egger regression. A high consumption of oily fish and raw vegetables was associated with a decreased risk of AQP4-positive NMOSD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.78 × 10−16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.60 × 10−25–1.22 × 10−7, p = 0.001; OR = 5.28 × 10−6, 95% CI = 4.67 × 10−11–0.598, p = 0.041, respectively). The results were consistent in the sensitivity analyses, and no evidence of directional pleiotropy was observed. Our study provides useful implications for the development of AQP4-positive NMOSD prevention strategies. Further research is needed to determine the exact causal relationship and mechanisms underlying the association between specific food intake and AQP4-positive NMOSD.

COVID−19 hospitalization increases the risk of developing glioblastoma: a bidirectional Mendelian-randomization study

“…The study was conducted on a bidirectional two-sample univariable design. To estimate the causal effects of GBM on COVID-19, a genetically predicted GBM risk is used as an exposure and COVID-19 severity, hospitalization, or susceptibility is used as an outcome ( 16 , 17 ). Based on genetically predicted COVID-19 severity, hospitalization, and susceptibility risks, we estimate the causal effects of COVID-19 on GBM.…”

Application of mendelian randomization in ocular diseases: a review

“…However, more findings from appropriate observational studies are still required to confirm a direct connection between the COVID-19 phenotype and the development of NMOSD [ 70 ]. The effects of 29 lifestyle and dietary factors were assessed in 132 AQP4-positive NMOSD patients and 784 controls from relevant GWAS using methods like IVW, MR-Egger etc., and it turned out that eating oily fish and raw vegetables reduced the risk of AQP4-positive NMOSD [ 71 ]. By using a two-sample MR analysis, Jasiak-Zatonska et al investigated the relationship between other autoimmune diseases and NMOSD.…”