Impact of circulating zinc and other micronutrients on heel bone parameters: New evidence from Mendelian randomization analysis.

ABSTRACT: Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mass and increased fracture risk. This study employed a 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal relationships between circulating micronutrient levels and bone health indicators, including heel broadband ultrasound attenuation, quantitative ultrasound index, bone mineral density, and osteoporosis risk. Genetic instruments were derived from large-scale genome-wide association studies. Among all tested micronutrients, zinc uniquely demonstrated causal associations with heel bone parameters. Specifically, genetically predicted higher zinc levels were negatively associated with heel broadband ultrasound attenuation (odds ratio [OR] = 0.972, P = .001), quantitative ultrasound index (OR = 0.98

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12599688 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature