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Sarcopenia-related traits, body mass index and ovarian cancer risk: Investigation of causal relationships through multivariable mendelian randomisation analyses

16 Apr 2024
Sarcopenia-related traits, body mass index and ovarian cancer risk: Investigation of causal relationships through multivariable mendelian randomisation analyses

Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal.

This study was aimed at exploring the causal relationships of four sarcopenia-related traits (appendicular lean mass, usual walking pace, right hand grip strength, and levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity) with body mass index (BMI) and ovarian cancer risk, by using univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomisation (MR) methods.

Univariable and multivariable MR was performed to estimate causal relationships among sarcopenia-related traits, BMI, and ovarian cancer risk, in aggregated genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from the UK Biobank.

Genetic variants associated with each variable (P < 5 × 10−8) were identified as instrumental variables.

Three methods—inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis, weighted median analysis, and MR-Egger regression—were used.

Univariable MR analyses revealed positive causal effects of high appendicular lean mass (P = 0.02) and high BMI (P = 0.001) on ovarian cancer occurrence.

In contrast, a genetically predicted faster usual walking pace was associated with lower risk of ovarian cancer (P = 0.03).

No evidence was found supporting roles of right hand grip strength and levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity in ovarian cancer development (P = 0.56 and P = 0.22, respectively).

In multivariable MR analyses, the association between a genetically predicted faster usual walking pace and lower ovarian cancer risk remained significant (P = 0.047).

This study highlights a role of slower usual walking pace in the development of ovarian cancer.

Further studies are required to validate our findings and understand the underlying mechanisms.

BIO Integration is fully open access journal which will allow for the rapid dissemination of multidisciplinary views driving the progress of modern medicine.

As part of its mandate to help bring interesting work and knowledge from around the world to a wider audience, BIOI will actively support authors through open access publishing and through waiving author fees in its first years.

Also, publication support for authors whose first language is not English will be offered in areas such as manuscript development, English language editing and artwork assistance.

Source: Compuscript LTD