Exploring Causal Associations Between Plasma Metabolites and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the human plasma metabolome is altered but the causal relationship between the levels of metabolites and ASD is unclear. We aimed to assess bidirectional causal associations between plasma metabolites and ASD.

Methods

We investigated potential causal associations between the genetic variation contributing to the levels of metabolites and ASD via Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary datasets were used in the study, including ASD (n = 46,350) and 871 plasma metabolite (n = 8299) datasets. We used druggability analysis to prioritize metabolites with therapeutic potential.

Results

Our MR analysis identified 32 plasma metabolites whose levels were protective against the risk of ASD

SUBMITTER: Shi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12781214 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature