Causal Association Between Obesity, Circulating Glutamine Levels, and Depression: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors' conclusion
The present study reported that higher BMI was causally associated with lower glutamine levels. Both obesity and downregulation of glutamine were causally linked to depression.
Study context
- Outcome
- Causal associations between glutamine, BMI and depression
Methodological details2-sample, bidirectional, univariable mendelian randomization (MR), multivariable MR, linkage disequilibrium score regression
- 2-sample
- Bidirectional
- Univariable MR
- Multivariable MR
- Linkage disequilibrium score regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Genetic downregulation of glutamine causally associated with major depressive disorder (MDD), anhedonia, tiredness and depressed mood (false discovery rate (FDR)-controlled); estimate
−0.036 ∼ −0.013; P = .005 to P = .050
Elevated body mass index (BMI) causally linked to lower glutamine level; estimate
−0.103
P = .037
Elevated BMI causally linked to more severe depressed mood, tiredness and anhedonia; estimate
0.017 ∼ 0.050; P < .001 to P = .040
Further findings
Reverse direction: depression on glutamine levels or BMI
- Tiredness causally associated with elevated BMI; estimate
- 0.309; P = .003
- Limited evidence for causal effects of depression on glutamine levels or BMI
Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSR)
- LDSR estimates directionally consistent with MR results
Original publication
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