Causal relationship between micronutrients and risk of tuberculosis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
10.3969/j.issn.1006-2483.2026.02.007
- VernacularTitle:微量营养素与结核病风险的因果关系：一项两样本孟德尔随机化研究
- Author:
Aili ABULIKEMU
1
;
Xiaomin WANG
1
;
Baofeng WEN
1
;
Junan WANG
1
;
Kuerbanjiang GULIZABA
1
;
Yaying ZHANG
1
;
Razbek JAINA
1
;
Mingqin CAO
1
Author Information
1. School of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Tuberculosis;
Micronutrients;
Mendelian randomization;
Causal inference
- From:
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
2026;37(2):30-34
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the causal relationships between 13 micronutrients (copper, selenium, zinc, calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E) and risk of tuberculosis (TB) through a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Methods The Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data about micronutrients and TB were obtained from the IEU Open GWAS and FinnGen Biobank, and Bayesian Weighted Mendelian Randomization (BWMR) and Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) methods were employed to explore the causal relationship between micronutrients and risk of TB. The robustness and reliability of the results were assessed through horizontal pleiotropy tests, heterogeneity tests, and leave-one-out sensitivity analyses. Results The BWMR results indicated that iron (OR = 0.40, 95% CI : 0.20- 0.79, P = 0.008) and vitamin C (OR = 0.42, 95% CI : 0.20 - 0.87, P = 0.019) were protective factors against TB infection, while no causal relationships were found between other micronutrients with TB infection. The IVW method produced consistent results with BWMR. The results for other micronutrients were robust and reliable (P > 0.05), except for calcium-related Instrumental Variables (IVs), which exhibited heterogeneity (P < 0.05). Conclusion Iron and vitamin C may play a protective role in reducing the risk of TB, whereas the remaining micronutrients show no significant causal relationship with TB.
