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Phenotype-wide randomization study gives insights into the consequences of obesity

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January 24, 2022
By
Olena Mokshyna, PhD.

This comprehensive study described diabetes' novel effects and confirmed several debated effects.

Obesity, generally defined as high body mass index (BMI), is one of the major disabilities and can greatly impact human health. Many studies have shown that obesity correlates with a range of diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), depression, and various types of cancer. However, previously no studies employed causal analysis to understand the direction of causal effects and minimize the confounding factors.
He et al. conducted phenotype-wide mendelian randomization (MR) study aimed at clarifying the causal effects of obesity on health. MR is a powerful statistical method that uses measured variation in genes to investigate the causal effect of an exposure (e.g., obesity) on an outcome (e.g., T2D). 
The primary results of MR confirmed the correlative findings of previous studies, including obesity’s influence on heart diseases (such as heart failure), diseases of the circulatory system (i.e., blood clots), T2D, hypertension, gout, and sleep disorders. Musculoskeletal problems connected with obesity led to the increased sensitivity to the pain experience.  Scores describing health satisfaction were generally lowered in people with high BMI.
Analysis of He et al. also demonstrated that obesity could increase red blood cells count in peripheral blood, which can be attributed to obesity-induced hypoxia. MR analysis of RBC showed a causal link between elevated RBC and the risk of T2D. However, the authors observed an inverse causal relationship between high BMI and the risks of prostate and skin cancer. The study also confirmed the relationship between obesity and dietary preference, including simultaneous increase in the proportion of low-calorie food and bigger portion size. 
This comprehensive MR study robustly demonstrated that causal effect of obesity on a variety of human diseases and confirmed the known effects. More importantly, novel effects (e.g., RBC) were described, and several debated effects (e.g., prostate and skin cancer risks decrease) were confirmed. These results may further help in disease prevention and research on disease etiology.






Source: link

Obesity, generally defined as high body mass index (BMI), is one of the major disabilities and can greatly impact human health. Many studies have shown that obesity correlates with a range of diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), depression, and various types of cancer. However, previously no studies employed causal analysis to understand the direction of causal effects and minimize the confounding factors.
He et al. conducted phenotype-wide mendelian randomization (MR) study aimed at clarifying the causal effects of obesity on health. MR is a powerful statistical method that uses measured variation in genes to investigate the causal effect of an exposure (e.g., obesity) on an outcome (e.g., T2D). 
The primary results of MR confirmed the correlative findings of previous studies, including obesity’s influence on heart diseases (such as heart failure), diseases of the circulatory system (i.e., blood clots), T2D, hypertension, gout, and sleep disorders. Musculoskeletal problems connected with obesity led to the increased sensitivity to the pain experience.  Scores describing health satisfaction were generally lowered in people with high BMI.
Analysis of He et al. also demonstrated that obesity could increase red blood cells count in peripheral blood, which can be attributed to obesity-induced hypoxia. MR analysis of RBC showed a causal link between elevated RBC and the risk of T2D. However, the authors observed an inverse causal relationship between high BMI and the risks of prostate and skin cancer. The study also confirmed the relationship between obesity and dietary preference, including simultaneous increase in the proportion of low-calorie food and bigger portion size. 
This comprehensive MR study robustly demonstrated that causal effect of obesity on a variety of human diseases and confirmed the known effects. More importantly, novel effects (e.g., RBC) were described, and several debated effects (e.g., prostate and skin cancer risks decrease) were confirmed. These results may further help in disease prevention and research on disease etiology.






Source: link

Article reviewed by
Dr. Ana Baroni MD. Ph.D.
SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL ADVISOR
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Dr. Ana Baroni MD. Ph.D.

Scientific & Medical Advisor
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Ana has over 20 years of consultancy experience in longevity, regenerative and precision medicine. She has a multifaceted understanding of genomics, molecular biology, clinical biochemistry, nutrition, aging markers, hormones and physical training. This background allows her to bridge the gap between longevity basic sciences and evidence-based real interventions, putting them into the clinic, to enhance the healthy aging of people. She is co-founder of Origen.life, and Longevityzone. Board member at Breath of Health, BioOx and American Board of Clinical Nutrition. She is Director of International Medical Education of the American College of Integrative Medicine, Professor in IL3 Master of Longevity at Barcelona University and Professor of Nutrigenomics in Nutrition Grade in UNIR University.

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