Mendelian randomization study on the association between micronutrients and type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications
REN Ying
YANG Bowen
SUN Yumei
LI Qingqing
LIU Baoyu
PANG Xiaoli
Abstract：Objective:To utilize Mendelian randomization to eliminate confounding factors and reverse causality bias,ascertain the potential causal relationships between micronutrients and type 2 diabetes mellitus,as well as its complications.Methods:Leveraging genome-wide association study(GWAS)data,the exposure factors encompassed 15 micronutrients including minerals such as copper,selenium,zinc,potassium,iron,magnesium,and calcium,as well as vitamins A,B6,folate,B12,C,D,E,and beta-carotene.The outcome variables were type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications.Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted using methods such as inverse-variance weighted(IVW),MR-Egger,and weighted median,and sensitivity analyses were performed.Results:The results from the inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method and the weighted median method indicated that atherosclerosis was positively correlated with vitamin B12 levels and negatively correlated with vitamin A levels.Chronic renal failure was negatively correlated with folate levels.Type 2 diabetes mellitus was positively correlated with selenium levels,and diabetic macular edema was positively correlated with iron levels.The multivariate Mendelian randomization results revealed that selenium was an independent influencing factor for type 2 diabetes,while vitamin A and vitamin B12 could independently affect the occurrence of atherosclerosis.Conclusions:This study suggests that specific micronutrients may play a regulatory role in type 2 diabetes and its complications.These findings provide support in developing scientific and reasonable dietary guidelines and preventive strategies.
Keywords：type 2 diabetes mellituscomplicationsmicronutrientsmineralstrace elementsMendelian randomization
Publication Date：2025-09-10
Online Publishing Date：2025-09-12(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：10( 2849-2858 )