Metabolic traits as mediators between excess salt intake and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

ABSTRACT: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately 25% of individuals worldwide and poses a significant burden on global health. In this study, we conducted Mendelian randomization analysis using salt added to food (SAF) as the exposure and investigated 249 metabolic traits as potential mediating factors. We applied multiple methods, including inverse-variance-weighted, weighted median, and Mendelian randomization-Egger, to assess causal relationships and detect pleiotropy. Mediation analysis was conducted to identify potential mediators between SAF and NAFLD. Our analysis revealed that higher SAF is associated with an increased risk of NAFLD (beta = 0.38, P = .0056). We identified 6 metabolites associated with SAF. Additionally, we found 106 metabolites associated with NAFLD.

SUBMITTER: Li R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12282819 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature