The causal association between iron status and the risk of autism: A Mendelian randomization study
Emerging evidence indicates a connection between serum iron levels and autism, but the underlying causal association is yet unclear. Thus, we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal link between iron status on autism, using genetic instruments (p < 5E...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.957600/full |
| _version_ | 1811334571241766912 |
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| author | Li Chen Li Chen Xingzhi Guo Xingzhi Guo Xingzhi Guo Chen Hou Chen Hou Peng Tang Peng Tang Xin Zhang Xin Zhang Li Chong Li Chong Rui Li Rui Li Rui Li |
| author_facet | Li Chen Li Chen Xingzhi Guo Xingzhi Guo Xingzhi Guo Chen Hou Chen Hou Peng Tang Peng Tang Xin Zhang Xin Zhang Li Chong Li Chong Rui Li Rui Li Rui Li |
| author_sort | Li Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Emerging evidence indicates a connection between serum iron levels and autism, but the underlying causal association is yet unclear. Thus, we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal link between iron status on autism, using genetic instruments (p < 5E–08) strongly associated with iron status (N = 48,972), including serum iron, ferritin, transferrin levels, and transferrin saturation. Summary statistics of autism was obtained from two independent studies conducted by Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC, Ncases = 5,305, Ncontrols = 5,305) and FinnGen Consortium (FC, Round six, Ncases = 344, Ncontrols = 258,095), respectively. Using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, the combined results of PGC and FC demonstrated that genetically determined serum transferrin level was significantly associated with an increased risk of autism [odds ratio (OR) = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.03–1.30, p = 0.013]. There was no significant causal effect of serum iron (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.72–1.37, p = 0.951), ferritin (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.47–1.64, p = 0.676), and transferrin saturation (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.72–1.09, p = 0.252) on autism. No obvious pleiotropy was found in this MR study. Taken together, our findings highlight that elevation of serum transferrin level might be associated with a high risk of autism, suggesting a potential role of iron deficiency in autism development. Future studies are warranted to clarify the underlying mechanism, which will pave a new path for the prevention and treatment of autism. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:10:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-93a37d5e89204216a6199e830a8e8eca2022-12-22T02:38:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2022-11-01910.3389/fnut.2022.957600957600The causal association between iron status and the risk of autism: A Mendelian randomization studyLi Chen0Li Chen1Xingzhi Guo2Xingzhi Guo3Xingzhi Guo4Chen Hou5Chen Hou6Peng Tang7Peng Tang8Xin Zhang9Xin Zhang10Li Chong11Li Chong12Rui Li13Rui Li14Rui Li15Department of Geriatric Neurology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Medicine, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaDepartment of Geriatric Neurology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Medicine, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaInstitute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaDepartment of Geriatric Neurology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Medicine, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaDepartment of Geriatric Neurology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Medicine, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaDepartment of Geriatric Neurology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Medicine, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaDepartment of Geriatric Neurology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Medicine, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaDepartment of Geriatric Neurology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Medicine, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaInstitute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaEmerging evidence indicates a connection between serum iron levels and autism, but the underlying causal association is yet unclear. Thus, we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal link between iron status on autism, using genetic instruments (p < 5E–08) strongly associated with iron status (N = 48,972), including serum iron, ferritin, transferrin levels, and transferrin saturation. Summary statistics of autism was obtained from two independent studies conducted by Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC, Ncases = 5,305, Ncontrols = 5,305) and FinnGen Consortium (FC, Round six, Ncases = 344, Ncontrols = 258,095), respectively. Using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, the combined results of PGC and FC demonstrated that genetically determined serum transferrin level was significantly associated with an increased risk of autism [odds ratio (OR) = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.03–1.30, p = 0.013]. There was no significant causal effect of serum iron (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.72–1.37, p = 0.951), ferritin (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.47–1.64, p = 0.676), and transferrin saturation (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.72–1.09, p = 0.252) on autism. No obvious pleiotropy was found in this MR study. Taken together, our findings highlight that elevation of serum transferrin level might be associated with a high risk of autism, suggesting a potential role of iron deficiency in autism development. Future studies are warranted to clarify the underlying mechanism, which will pave a new path for the prevention and treatment of autism.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.957600/fullirontransferrinferritinautismMendelian randomization |
| spellingShingle | Li Chen Li Chen Xingzhi Guo Xingzhi Guo Xingzhi Guo Chen Hou Chen Hou Peng Tang Peng Tang Xin Zhang Xin Zhang Li Chong Li Chong Rui Li Rui Li Rui Li The causal association between iron status and the risk of autism: A Mendelian randomization study Frontiers in Nutrition iron transferrin ferritin autism Mendelian randomization |
| title | The causal association between iron status and the risk of autism: A Mendelian randomization study |
| title_full | The causal association between iron status and the risk of autism: A Mendelian randomization study |
| title_fullStr | The causal association between iron status and the risk of autism: A Mendelian randomization study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The causal association between iron status and the risk of autism: A Mendelian randomization study |
| title_short | The causal association between iron status and the risk of autism: A Mendelian randomization study |
| title_sort | causal association between iron status and the risk of autism a mendelian randomization study |
| topic | iron transferrin ferritin autism Mendelian randomization |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.957600/full |
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