C-reactive protein levels and body mass index: elucidating direction of causation through reciprocal Mendelian randomization
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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, positive association between circulating CRP and BMI (change in BMI for a doubling in logCRP of 1.03 kg m(-2) (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.00, 1.07), P
Original language | English |
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Journal | International Journal of Obesity |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 300-8 |
Number of pages | 9 |
ISSN | 0307-0565 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2011 |
ID: 34151983