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Specific dietary habits, including alcohol consumption with meals, skimmed milk, and tub margarine, are linked to an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis, while low-fat spread may help reduce this risk.
A recent study employing bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) has uncovered novel insights into the causal connection between specific dietary habits and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), providing crucial evidence for how diet may influence the risk and progression of this chronic inflammatory condition. The research relied on data from two key sources:
Researchers explored whether specific dietary habits could influence RA risk, as well as whether having RA could alter dietary choices. The 2-sample, 2-way MR analysis utilized inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, simple mode, weighted median, and weighted mode methodologies. Additionally, numerous pleiotropy and heterogeneity tests were carried out for verifying the integrity of the findings.
One of the most pivotal findings was the positive link between alcohol consumption and RA. Drinking alcohol with meals was positively correlated with RA (β, 0.563) as current drinkers who consumed alcohol regularly with meals exhibited a higher risk of developing RA. The study also revealed a protective connection between the consumption of low-fat spreads and RA. Low-fat spread consumption was negatively correlated with RA (β, -2.536).
The study also explored the influence of milk consumption, particularly skimmed milk on risk of developing RA. Furthermore, RA was found to be positively linked with skimmed milk consumption (β, 0.006). Another dietary habit related to RA was the type of spread used. Specifically, tub margarine consumption was positively correlated with RA (β, 0.016). The pleiotropy and heterogeneity tests revealed no evidence of pleiotropy in the results. Furthermore, the findings from weighted mode, weighted median, simple mode, and MR-Egger analyses were consistent with the inverse variance weighted results.
To sum up, alcohol consumption during meals and the use of skimmed milk and tub margarine were positively correlated with RA, whereas low-fat spread was associated with a decreased risk of the condition. Given the rising interest in precision medicine and personalized care, understanding the interplay between genetics, diet, and disease risk is fundamental for developing more targeted interventions.
Medicine (Baltimore)
Bidirectional Mendelian randomization explores the causal relationship between dietary habits and rheumatoid arthritis
Wantong Xu et al.
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