C-reactive protein levels and body mass index: elucidating direction of causation through reciprocal Mendelian randomization.

ABSTRACT:

Context

The assignment of direction and causality within networks of observational associations is problematic outside randomized control trials, and the presence of a causal relationship between body mass index (BMI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) is disputed.

Objective

Using reciprocal Mendelian randomization, we aim to assess the direction of causality in relationships between BMI and CRP and to demonstrate this as a promising analytical technique.

Participants and methods

The study was based on a large, cross-sectional European study from Copenhagen, Denmark. Genetic associates of BMI (FTO(rs9939609)) and circulating CRP (CRP(rs3091244)) have been used to reexamine observational associations between them.

Results

Observational analyses showed a strong, positi

SUBMITTER: Timpson NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4783860 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature