Causal associations between iron deficiency anemia and digestive system cancers: evidence from a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is associated with digestive system cancers (DSCs), but the causal relationship is poorly understood. This two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study investigated the causal association between IDA and five types of DSCs.

Methods

This study pooled data from a genome-wide association study of IDA (6,087 cases and 211,115 controls of European ancestry) and DSCs. IVW, weighted median, weighted mode, and MR-Egger regression were used to assess causal associations between IDA and DSCs. Sensitivity analysis included Cochran's Q test for heterogeneity, MR-PRESSO for pleiotropy, and leave-one-out method for robustness.

Results

The MR analysis used 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with IDA as i

SUBMITTER: Qin Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12045922 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature