Nutrition & Metabolism (Dec 2024)

The role of circulating polyunsaturated fatty acids in mediating the effect of BMI on leukocyte telomere length: analysis using Mendelian randomization

  • Li Tan,
  • Meng-Mei Zhong,
  • Ya-Qiong Zhao,
  • Yao Feng,
  • Qin Ye,
  • Jing Hu,
  • Ze-Yue Ou-Yang,
  • Ning-xin Chen,
  • Xiao-Lin Su,
  • Qian Zhang,
  • Qiong Liu,
  • Hui Yuan,
  • Min-Yuan Wang,
  • Yun-Zhi Feng,
  • Yue Guo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-024-00882-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 1
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

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Abstract Background polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are a category of fatty acids that contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which constitute a substantial portion of the Western diet and are vital for maintaining human wellness. The extent to which circulating PUFAs influence the effects of BMI on leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is unknown. Additionally, the impact of circulating PUFA on LTL remains controversial in observational studies. Methods Using publicly accessible datasets, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was carried out to determine genetic association estimates for BMI, circulating PUFAs, and LTL. The circulating PUFAs considered were omega-3 PUFAs (i.e., docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total omega-3 PUFAs) and omega-6 PUFAs (i.e., linoleic acid (LA) and total omega-6 PUFAs). Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to investigate the causal relationships between BMI and PUFA with LTL. Additionally, we examined whether certain PUFA mediate the impact of BMI on LTL. Results None of the evidence supported a causal effect of genetically predicted DHA and total omega-3 PUFA on LTL (DHA: β = 0.001, 95% CI: −0.023 to 0.026, p = 0.926; total omega-3 PUFA: β = 0.008, 95% CI: −0.013 to 0.029, p = 0.466). After conducting sensitivity analyses to account for various models of horizontal pleiotropy, the causal association between higher levels of LA and longer LTL persisted (β = 0.034, 95% CI 0.016 to 0.052, p < 0.001). Adjusting for LA in genetics reduced the effect of BMI on LTL from β = -0.039 (95% CI: -0.058 to -0.020, p < 0.001) to -0.034 (95% CI: -0.054 to -0.014, p < 0.001). Conclusions This MR study indicates that an increase in genetically predicted circulating LA levels is associated with longer LTL. Additionally, it appears that circulating LA levels play a role in mediating some of the impact that BMI has on LTL.

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